A MEMS GC-Mini-cell IMS for Astrobiology Measurements

Autor: Paul M. Holland, Daniel R. Kojiro, Robert M. Stimac, William J. Kaye, Norishige Takeuchi
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: ChemInform. 37
ISSN: 1522-2667
0931-7597
Popis: In situ exploration of the solar system to identify its early chemistry and to uncover compelling evidence of astrobiology requires continual development of new technology for chemical analysis. Chemical measurements in space flight environments highlight the need for a high level of positive identification of chemical compounds, since remeasurement by alternative techniques for confirmation will not be feasible. It also may not be possible to anticipate all chemical species that are observed, and important species may be present only at trace levels where they can be masked by complex chemical backgrounds. The Cometary Ice and Dust Experiment (CIDEX), which combined Gas Chromatography (GC) with helium Io n Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), was capable of providing the wide range of analytical information required for Astrobiology missions. The CIDEX GC, while considered miniature by the standards during its development, is now outdated in comparison with many terrestrial advanced GC systems currently available. In particular, newer GC systems employing Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based technology have greatly reduced both the size and resource requirements for space GCs. A corresponding development in IMS technology has produced a smaller IMS design as well. We describe here the further development of a miniature helium host-gas Mini-Cell IMS integrated with a MEMS GC to enable the accurate and sensitive chemical analysis of extraterrestrial environments in support of Astrobiology flight experiments. Potential applications include cometary exobiology missions, the Titan Ice and Dust Experiment (TIDE) for the chemical analysis of the surface (liquid and solid) and lower atmosphere of Titan, and the Mars Geochemical Instrument (MarGI) Experiment proposed for the Mars Science Laboratory Lander/Rover.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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