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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 4)
Science Goals: Measurements of the bulk and trace soluble inorganic species of a sample are critical for providing sample context during planetary science and astrobiology missions attempting to differentiate biotic signals from abiotic signals within an environment. Both the absolute and relative amounts of specific ions (e.g., sodium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, etc.) as well as bulk characteristics (e.g. pH, conductivity, Eh) help establish the sample geochemical context and history as one of the lines of evidence that allow interpretation of any organic material identified. Furthermore, it allows sample to sample comparison or normalization and a comparison from one body to another (e.g., how is this ocean or ice different from what we observe on Earth). Finally, these measurements can also provide crucial input on how the sample needs to be handled to prevent interference by bulk components (e.g. salts) during sensitive organic analysis. Given that many future missions will be searching for signs of life on only loosely constrained samples, it is also important that the inorganic characterization cast as wide a net as possible, to allow for the identification of unexpected species or characteristics. This proposal will develop the core sensing portion of a broadly capable inorganic sample characterization instrument designed to be incorporated into the existing fluidic stream of an instrument suite, eliminating the need for a standalone instrument that requires its own sample input and accommodation of the spacecraft. Methodology: To develop a truly miniaturized inorganic sensing capability we will advance the TRL of state-of-the-art technology designed for flexible and wearable sensor arrays. These arrays are designed to require droplet-sized samples (a few microliters) for the measurement of inorganic and gaseous molecules. Using flight compatible polyester, polyimide, and/or polyacrylate materials in conjugation with carbon-based nanomaterials we will design and build a potentiometric ion selective electrode (ISE) array and chemoresistive gas sensors to make the inorganic measurements previously described. ISEs are low mass, low-power electrochemical sensors that selectively quantify individual ions in a mixed solution, and have previously been demonstrated as part of a flight instrument in the Wet Chemistry Lab on the Mars Phoenix Lander. This type of measurement is well suited to initial environmental context assessment as it does not require sample pretreatment and, thus, is made directly on unadulterated sample, eliminating the need for complicated sample handling and the potential for unanticipated reactions. A broad variety of selective sensors have been demonstrated as well, enabling the needed survey capability. By leveraging wearable sensor technology, and developments in ISE fabrication, we can incorporate these crucial environmental context measurements into a wide range and configuration of architectures. This not only removes the limits of rigid structure for accommodation, but also opens up the ability to make measurements on samples of only a few microliters. This flexibility of design and low sample requirement will enable the inclusion of this instrument into the fluidic path of larger more complex instruments and sample handling systems, enhancing the science returned from in situ missions of exploration with minimal additional cost. Relevance: This proposal directly relates to the PICASSO program through the development of broad inorganic sensing capabilities that will enhance the overall science return from in situ missions of exploration with minimal additional cost to spacecraft resources. We will advance the TRL of a flexible, miniature electrochemical sensor array capable of using microliter sample volumes to measure inorganic species from TRL 2 – TRL 4.
Developing Instrument technology to improve measurements for future planetary science missions
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