{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":10536,"title":"Miniature Universal Sampling System for Scientific Instruments Project","startTrl":1,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"
Plasma-based sampling systems offer three key advantages over other sampling systems: 1) they do not require sample preparation, 2) they can analyze in real-time, and 3) they do not rely on volatility - meaning they are capable of sampling solids, liquids or gases. The plasma system developed in this project was successfully interfaced to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The combined system was used to perform continuous sampling at atmospheric pressures.
","description":"Characterize the performance of a low-temperature plasma discharge for use as an ion source, an ablation tool, and a sterilization tool. The ion source investigation consisted of coupling the low-temperature plasma discharge source to a mass spectrometer. The goal of this investigation is to provide insight into the ion yield and degree of fragmentation of the low-temperature plasma source relative to conventional electron-impact ion sources, as well as providing insight into technical requirements relating to gas usage, and vacuum requirements. Answering these questions will also address the larger question: is a plasma discharge ion source feasible for planetary exploration? The ablation study with the low-temperature plasma consisted of prolonged exposures of metal surfaces to the low-temperature plasma discharge and analyzing surface modifications with scanning electron microscopy. The intent of this study is to identify whether a plasma source can be used to ablate material from a surface and provide depth profiling of that surface when used in conjunction with a mass spectrometer. Sterilization of a surface with plasmas can proceed through passivation where contaminants are simply desorbed from the surface or through deactivation where biological contaminants on a surface are altered or destroyed following exposure to the plasma. This sterilization study with the low-temperature plasma probe focused on deactivation and involved exposure of Bacillus subtilis samples to the low-temperature plasma discharge to ascertain its effectiveness in deactivating these spores.","startYear":2011,"startMonth":12,"endYear":2012,"endMonth":4,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":232090,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"John","lastName":"Macaskill","fullName":"John A Macaskill","fullNameInverted":"Macaskill, John A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"john.a.macaskill@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":335305,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Lapointe","fullName":"Michael R Lapointe","fullNameInverted":"Lapointe, Michael R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"michael.r.lapointe@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":392233,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Richard","lastName":"Howard","fullName":"Richard W Howard","fullNameInverted":"Howard, Richard W","middleInitial":"W","primaryEmail":"richard.w.howard@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":155484,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Fred","lastName":"Hadaegh","fullName":"Fred Y Hadaegh","fullNameInverted":"Hadaegh, Fred Y","middleInitial":"Y","primaryEmail":"fred.y.hadaegh@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"coInvestigators":[{"contactId":132377,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Edem","lastName":"Tsikata","fullName":"Edem Tsikata","fullNameInverted":"Tsikata, Edem","primaryEmail":"edem.tsikata@jpl.nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"Project Image Miniature Universal Sampling System for Scientific Instruments","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":267102,"fileName":"63","fileSize":24581,"objectId":266887,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"24.0 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":267102,"fileName":"63","fileSize":24581,"objectId":266887,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"24.0 KB"}],"id":266887,"title":"63.jpg","description":"Project Image Miniature Universal Sampling System for Scientific Instruments","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":10536,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":53559,"projectId":10536,"transitionDate":"2012-04-01","path":"Closed Out","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"April 2012"}],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":267102,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":266887,"description":"Project Image Miniature Universal Sampling System for Scientific Instruments","projectId":10536,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"JPL CIF","active":true,"description":"Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. 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