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Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry at Saturn’s moon Titan

Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: NASA's Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to the surface of Titan to investigate the prebiotic chemistry, habitability, and potential presence of chemical biosignatures on Saturn’s largest moon. One of the key analytical instruments onboard is the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) that will perform detailed chemical analyses of the Titan surface and atmosphere. The DraMS instrument is capable of multiple analytical modalities, including Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometry (LDMS), in which DraMS primarily seeks to characterize the low volatility/refractory organic content in acquired Titan surface samples. Several key design adaptations will be needed for DraMS to meet its LDMS measurement objectives at Titan as compared to previous development efforts for similar analysis at Mars. These adaptations include an altered sample collection and delivery approach, modifications to the LDMS ion source, and performance optimization for operations with Titan atmospheric gas.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijms.2021.116707
Authors: Andrej Grubisic, Melissa G. Trainer, Xiang Li, William B. Brinckerhoff, Friso H. van Amerom, Ryan M. Danell, John T. Costa, Marco Castillo, Desmond Kaplan, Kris Zacny
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,200
Award: IGF::OT::IGF CRESST IITHE GODDARD CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION IN SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CRESST) II WILL CARRY OUT OBSERVATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF NASA STRATEGIC SCIENCE MISSION OBJECTIVES RELATING TO:A.THE SOLAR SYSTEM STARS GALAXIES AND THE UNIVERSE AT LARGE;B.THE INFORMATIONAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES RELATED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF DATA SYSTEMS REQUIRED TO INTERPRET DATA FROM THE SPACE SCIENCES; ANDC.THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THESE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES.THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW FOR SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMMATIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE FORM OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN GSFC AND THE CRESST II AS WELL AS JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.THE GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A FOCUSED PARTNERSHIP THAT:A.BRINGS TOGETHER GSFC AND EXTERNAL SCIENTISTS TO IMPLEMENT THE NASA STRATEGIC GOAL IN SPACE SCIENCE;B.BUILDS ON THE CAPABILITIES AND STRENGTHS OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION IN SPACE SCIENCE;C.PROVIDES ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO EVOLVING RESEARCH PROGRAM NEEDS;D.INCREASES THE INVOLVEMENT OF MINORITY AND WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN SPACE SCIENCE RESEARCH; ANDE.FACILITATES ACCESS TO STUDENT TALENT AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN NASA PROGRAMS.A BROAD AND VIGOROUS SPACE RESEARCH PROGRAM IN NASA IS VITAL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE. SCIENTISTS AT NASA IN COLLABORATION WITH OUTSIDE SCIENTISTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN CONCEIVING NEW SPACE MISSIONS PROVIDING MISSION REQUIREMENTS AND ACHIEVING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGINS STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION OF SYSTEMS IN THE UNIVERSE AND EXPLORING THE SOLAR SYSTEM.THE CRESST II WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. IT IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE RECIPIENT AND GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS IN THE GODDARD SCIENCES AND EXPLORATION DIRECTORATE (SED) AND WILL PROVIDE A VEHICLE TO INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE EXTERNAL SCIENCE COMMUNITY IN THE PURSUIT OF NASA GOALS.THE CRESST II WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH COLLABORATIVELY WITH ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS WITHIN THE GODDARD SED (CODE 600). RESEARCH MAY INVOLVE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM OPERATING AND PAST MISSIONS AND MODELING AND DESIGN OF MISSIONS PLANNED OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT. FUTURE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WILL EVOLVE AS A FUNCTION OF PRIORITIES BUDGETS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS.
OpenAlex ID: W3201214943
FWCI: 2.942
Cites: 29
Cited by: 57
Related to: 10