Miniature GC: Minicell ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for astrobiology planetary missions

ANYL 2

Daniel R. Kojiro, Daniel.R.Kojiro@nasa.gov1, Paul M. Holland2, Robert M. Stimac3, William J. Kaye3, and Norishige Takeuchi, ntakeuchi@mail.arc.nasa.gov4. (1) Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Exobiology Branch, MS 239-12, Moffett Field, CA 94035, (2) Thorleaf Research, Inc, 5552 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111-1406, (3) Ion Applications, Inc, West Palm Beach, FL, (4) Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc, NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239 - 12, Moffett Field, CA 94035
Astrobiology flight experiments require highly sensitive instrumentation for in situ analysis of volatile chemical species and minerals present in the atmospheres and surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids. The complex mixtures encountered place a heavy burden on the analytical instrumentation to detect and identify all species present. The use of land rovers and balloon aero-rovers place additional emphasis on miniaturization of the analytical instrumentation. In addition, smaller instruments, using tiny amounts of consumables, allow the use of more instrumentation and/or longer mission life for stationary landers/laboratories. We describe here the development of a miniature GC – Minicell Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) under development through NASA's Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development (ASTID) Program and NASA's Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program.
 

Analytical Approaches
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Sunday, 26 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- B213, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 27 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- Ex. Hall B4, Sci-Mix

Division of Analytical Chemistry

The 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 26-30, 2006