A Micro Cylindrical Ion Trap (µ-CIT) Micro Mass Spectrometer Instrument System (µMSIS) for NASA Planetary Exploration

The goal of this early stage innovation IRAD is to advance the development of new, extremely small, low power, and low cost "micro" mass spectrometer instrument systems (µMSIS) through the application of MEMS design and fabrication, and microsystem component integration and packaging, toward Pico-Satellite and/or other distributed planetary payload platforms.  We propose to develop a MEMS uMSIS packaging concept that is modular and flexible to further integration of a micro gas chromatograph, micro mass analyzer, and microelectronic components, into a complete instrument system Pico-Satellite probe array.

The project aims to develop a miniature packaging platform for the integration of MEMS mass spectrometer components to form the basis of a Micro Mass Spectrometer System for small, low mass, low power deployable sensor array applications.  Miniaturized packaging of MEMS mass spectrometer components into a functional mass spectrometer microsystem will be achieved through MEMS fabrication and miniaturized custom electronic and vacuum housing techniques.