NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Development of a Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (LITMS) Investigation for Future Planetary Surface MissionsFuture surface missions to Mars and other planetary bodies will benefit from continued advances in miniature sensor and sample handling technologies that enable high-performance chemical analyses of natural samples. Fine-scale (approx.1 mm and below) analyses of rock surfaces and interiors, such as exposed on a drill core, will permit (1) the detection of habitability markers including complex organics in association with their original depositional environment, and (2) the characterization of successive layers and gradients that can reveal the time-evolution of those environments. In particular, if broad-based and highly-sensitive mass spectrometry techniques could be brought to such scales, the resulting planetary science capability would be truly powerful. The Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (LITMS) investigation is designed to conduct fine-scale organic and inorganic analyses of short (approx.5-10 cm) rock cores such as could be acquired by a planetary lander or rover arm-based drill. LITMS combines both pyrolysis/gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GCMS) of sub-sampled core fines, and laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) of the intact core surface, using a common mass analyzer, enhanced from the design used in the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument on the 2018 ExoMars rover. LITMS additionally features developments based on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation on MSL and recent NASA-funded prototype efforts in laser mass spectrometry, pyrolysis, and precision subsampling. LITMS brings these combined capabilities to achieve its four measurement objectives: (1) Organics: Broad Survey Detect organic molecules over a wide range of molecular weight, volatility, electronegativity, concentration, and host mineralogy. (2) Organic: Molecular Structure Characterize internal molecular structure to identify individual compounds, and reveal functionalization and processing. (3) Inorganic Host Environment Assess the local chemical/mineralogical makeup of organic host phases to help determine deposition and preservation factors. (4) Chemical Stratigraphy Analyze the fine spatial distribution and variation of key species with depth.
Document ID
20160005744
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Brinckerhoff, W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Danell, R. (SGT, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Van Ameron, F. (SGT, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pinnick, V. (Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Li, X. (Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Arevalo, R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Glavin, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Getty, S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Mahaffy, P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Chu, P. (Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corp New York, NY, United States)
Zacny, K. (Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corp New York, NY, United States)
Rogacki, S. (Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Grubisic, A. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Cornish, T. (Adnet Systems, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
May 3, 2016
Publication Date
November 4, 2014
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN17854
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions
Location: Greenbelt, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: November 4, 2014
End Date: November 7, 2014
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12PL17C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12CR29C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Mars
linear ion trap mass spectrometer
planetary surmafe missions
planetary surface mission

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available