Proceedings ArticleDOI
CORALS: A Laser Desorption/Ablation Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer for In Situ Exploration of Europa
L. N. Willhite,Ziqin Ni,Ricardo Arevalo,A. Bardyn,Cynthia Gundersen,Niko Minasola,Adrian E. Southard,Christelle Briois,Laurent Thirkell,Fabrice Colin,Andrej Grubisic,Molly E. Fahey,Anthony W. Yu,Emanuel Hernandez,Akif Ersahin,Ryan M. Danell,Alexander Makarov +16 more
- pp 1-13
TLDR
The CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues And Life Signatures) instrument as discussed by the authors is a transformative mass spectrometer that comprises a solid-state UV laser source, custom ion transfer optics, and a high performance Orbitrap™ mass analyzer.Abstract:
Europa is a high-priority astrobiology target due to the presence of liquid water, carbon-rich materials, and energy sources that may support complex chemistry and the emergence of biological activity. The CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues And Life Signatures) instrument—a transformative mass spectrometer that comprises a solid-state UV laser source, custom ion transfer optics, and a high performance Orbitrap™ mass analyzer—is capable of comprehensive analyses of planetary materials that can provide important context for the origin and evolution of potential biosignatures and geologic icy matrices on Europa. The CORALS laser source, ion inlet system, and mass analyzer constitute a highly versatile and low SWaP (Size: 11,000 cm3; Weight: 8.0 kg; and Power: 41 W peak) mass spectrometer. Here we report on the design of the CORALS engineering test unit (ETU), which will be qualified for spaceflight via random vibration testing and exposure to dry heat microbial reduction, and test results from the two pathfinding prototypes that have informed the development of the ETU. The demonstrated analytical performance of the CORALS instrument supports the wide range of science goals and planetary targets this spectrometer can access, highlighting the instrument's multidimensional strengths in the search for life signatures on Europa or elsewhere in the Solar System.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Science Autonomy for Ocean Worlds Astrobiology: A Perspective.
Bethany Theiling,Luoth Chou,Victoria Da Poian,Melissa Battler,K. Raimalwala,Ricardo Arevalo,Marc Neveu,Ziqin Ni,Heather Graham,Jamie E. Elsila,Barbara J. Thompson +10 more
TL;DR: Several ways machine learning and autonomy could be used for astrobiology missions, including landing site selection, prioritization and targeting of samples, classification of " features" and novelties, and data transmission are discussed.
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Venus Life Finder Habitability Mission: Motivation, Science Objectives, and Instrumentation
Sara Seager,Janusz J. Petkowski,Christopher E. Carr,Sarag J. Saikia,Rachana Agrawal,Weston P. Buchanan,David Grinspoon,Monika Weber,Pete Klupar,Simon P. Worden,Iaroslav Iakubivskyi,Mihkel Pajusalu,Laila Kaasik +12 more
TL;DR: In this article , an astrobiology-focused mission, science goals, and instruments that can be used on both a large atmospheric probe with a parachute lasting about one hour in the cloud layers (40 to 60 km) or a fixed-altitude balloon operating at about 52 km above the surface.
Journal ArticleDOI
Laser desorption mass spectrometry with an Orbitrap analyser for in situ astrobiology
Ricardo Oviedo Arévalo,Lori N. Willhite,Anais Bardyn,Ziqin Ni,Soumyajit Ray,Adrian Southard,Ryan M. Danell,Andrej Grubisic,Cindy Gundersen,N. Minasola,Anthony W. Yu,Molly E. Fahey,E. Hernandez,Christelle Briois,Laurent Thirkell,Fabrice Colin,Alexander Makarov +16 more
TL;DR: In this paper , a laser desorption mass spectrometer (LDMS) is used for in situ characterization of the organic content and chemical composition of planetary materials without requiring extensive sample processing.
Journal ArticleDOI
Agnostic Life Finder (ALF) for Large-Scale Screening of Martian Life During In Situ Refueling.
Jan Spacek,Steven A. Benner +1 more
TL;DR: The Agnostic Life Finder (ALF) as discussed by the authors uses a voltage gradient perpendicularly to the water's flow to divert polyelectrolytes from the flow toward their respective electrodes, where they are captured in cartridges before they encounter the electrodes.
Journal ArticleDOI
In situ organic biosignature detection techniques for space applications
Victor Abrahamsson,Isik Kanik +1 more
TL;DR: In this article , a review article gives an overview of techniques used for space missions (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy), the further ongoing developments of these techniques, and ion mobility spectrometer.
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Journal ArticleDOI
Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry
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