High Resolution Mass Spectrometer

Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

Provide substantially improved chemical analysis capability for a comet rendezvous mission with a very high resolution mass spectrometer. Critical aspects of these technologies will be addressed improve mass resolution that provide greater breadth in the chemical analysis in the space environment of a comet. These technologies are not yet suitable for space flight use.

Technologies associated with two parallel paths will be pursued (1) a 3 stage RF quadrupole mass spectrometer that strongly leverages from existing technologies and (2) a state of the art orbitrap mass spectrometer that will be studied in collaboration with our external colleagues. External collaborators include several cometary science and mass spectrometer experts

Benefits

The very high mass resolution of this type of mass spectrometer can enable a conclusive disambiguation of elemental composition. In a solar system exploration mission searching for biosignatures this capability will increase the possibility of a definitive detection.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Atomic and Molecular Species Assessment
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2011-10-01
End date	2015-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Brook Lakew — brook.lakew@nasa.gov
Michael J Amato — michael.j.amato@nasa.gov
Paul Mahaffy — paul.r.mahaffy@nasa.gov
Jason P Dworkin — jason.p.dworkin@nasa.gov
Mehdi Benna — mehdi.benna-1@nasa.gov
Ricardo D Arevalo
Stephanie A Getty — stephanie.a.getty@nasa.gov
William B Brinckerhoff — william.b.brinckerhoff@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.