COSAC (COmetary Sampling And Composition experiment), on Philae, consists of a sample (soil and subsoil) system, a pyrolyzer and analyser of gas phase from these samples. LISA had the responsibility for the realization of the chromatographic subsystem consisting of five columns dedicated to the analysis of the general composition of the comet. These last were selected based on their selectivity with respect to mixtures representatives of the composition of the cometary environment and robustness. We will participate actively in the analysis of the results starting in 2014.

(http://roland.mpae.gwdg.de/cosac/description/index.html)

Block diagram of the COSAC instrument. Analyses are carried out through 8 different chromatographic columns.