Maturation of a Hypertunable IR Laser Spectrometer for In Situ Planetary Exploration

We propose to advance from TRL-4 to TRL-6 an instrument to identify and quantify in situ the abundance of compounds of key chemical and astrobiological significance in planetary gasses and liquids such as icy moon ocean water, the meltwater from planetary ices, and the organic seas and lakes of Titan. The overarching goal is to take an existing, commercial laboratory measurement system (TRL 4) and carry out the necessary trades, design modifications, miniaturization, and environmental testing required to demonstrate a prototype instrument that may be credibly proposed for flight. For the purposes of this proposal, the prototype instrument is designed and constructed around an implementation for a Europa lander. The full instrument concept consists of a front end system that ingests small amounts (mg) of ice, melts the sample in a controlled manner, and analyzes the resulting vapor with a new class of IR laser spectrometer. The major advantage to the proposed system compared to other direct measurement techniques (e.g., GCMS or Raman) is a large saving in resources while simultaneously providing rapid (~ 1 min) and unambiguous spectral identification of volatilized compounds and dissolved gases. It also has significant advantages over reflectance spectroscopy in terms of capabilities, simplicity, resource allocation, and signal-to-noise. For extremely resource constrained missions (e.g., the Europa Lander), such lower resource and high capability instruments may be the only feasible path to obtaining high priority science. The work plan has the following Goals and Objectives: Goal 1: Produce a medium fidelity TRL-5 brassboard and demonstrate overall performance in a simulated operation environment with realistic support elements. Objective 1A: Finalize screening and selection of lasers, electronics, optomechanics and detectors using components with path to flight; conduct radiation testing of key components. Objective 1B: Close miniaturization repackaging trades and finalize mechanical and electrical design into a configuration that is close to the expected form, fit and function of flight instrument. Objective 1C: Fabricate, assemble, integrate and test overall performance and measurement of trace gas spectra under simulated operational conditions. Goal 2: Produce a high fidelity system TRL-6 prototype that adequately addresses all critical scaling issues and is operated in a relevant environment to demonstrate operations under critical environmental conditions. Objective 2A: Complete delta-design trades based on knowledge gained from TRL-5 brassboard. Objective 2B: Assemble, integrate and test laser, optomechanical, electronics, and optical cell subsystems. Objective 2C: Test prototype under relevant conditions and validate against performance design and science-driven measurement requirements. The proposed instrument and development work is in concert with the MATISSE scope and goals. The TRL range is compliant, and the result will be an instrument prototype providing form, fit and function of a flight system that has been tested in the relevant environment.