A Compact, Integrated, Modular, Multi-Technology, Optical Sensor (CIMMOS) for In-Situ Characterization of Ocean Worlds

With the goal of enabling comprehensive standoff sensing of chemical bonds, we propose to develop a compact, integrated, modular, multi-technology, optical sensor (CIMMOS) with high spectroscopic information content for in situ reconnaissance and characterization of ocean world surface/subsurface materials that is also applicable for interrogation prior to sample return. CIMMOS is a novel concept that incorporates a suite of five advanced optical spectroscopy technologies to give a comprehensive 3D analysis of target atomic and molecular composition variation of as function of location and depth in centimeter scale. CIMMOS is innovative in being the first standoff in situ optical sensing facility capable of probing the broad vibrational response of molecules by acquiring Raman, IR and mid-IR LIBS spectroscopic signatures of condensed phase inorganic and organic samples. Combined with multi-elemental analysis of UVN LIBS emission, this novel system has the potential to offer a rapid, complete, and robust chemical characterization of surface targets. While the 3D composition mapping capability of CIMMOS make it an ideal in situ probe for ocean world missions, the modular design implementation of CIMMOS permits subsystem assemblies tailored to the application with cost-efficiency, resulting in a versatile instrument that can be optimized for size, power, and science objective requirements of a broad variety of Ocean World missions such as icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. With its versatility, we envision CIMMOS being deployed on landers of ocean worlds. The fore-optics will be designed to be fully reflective to support the modularity principle in our design. In our Phase-I effort, we will evaluate CIMMOS system design parameters for various modular configurations. In a future Phase-II effort, we intend to develop a breadboard system based on our existing NIR/SWIR system, optimized for lunar science, to minimize development cost.

Deployed on an ocean world exploration lander, CIMMOS can rapidly characterize minerals, salts, and organics deposited on the surface, as well as have the ability to resolve depth profiles ≥ 1 cm beneath the surface to understand diagenetic alteration. In addition, CIMMOS is fully compatible with a lander or rover drill to probe at the bottom of a drilled hole and study the deposits buried ≥10 cm below the surface.

In addition to NASA applications, the proposed instrument can be used for 1. Explosives, chemical and biological agent detection, 2. Water and soil pollution and contamination monitoring, 3. Quasi-nondestructive detection/evaluation in manufacturing industry 4. Composition analysis and counterfeit detection in pharmaceutical products.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

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