Advanced Resolution Organic Molecular Analyzer

Understanding the origin, distribution and processing of organic compounds in cryogenic planetary environments is one of the most compelling future directions in Solar System research. Such organics are structurally and functionally diverse, despite their low-temperature origins, and are thus thought to constitute an enabling prebiotic inventory for the potential emergence of life. Top-priority planetary science goals for the coming decades will require detailed in situ studies of surface and near-surface composition to elucidate molecular structure and unambiguous identification of complex mixtures of organics from icy environments. These planned investigations will further our understanding of primordial sources of organic matter, and the role and distribution of ancient Solar System and interstellar materials, with implications for the delivery of water, volatiles and hydrocarbons to Earth and other planetary objects. Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, has a rich organic chemistry requiring a modern high-resolution mass spectrometer to fully characterize its molecular evolution which could range from abiotic synthesis to extant cellular biology. We propose to develop a highly capable mass spectrometer instrument that will transform our understanding of Enceladus and other planetary environments such as the dwarf planet Ceres and comets like 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This comprehensive, in situ investigation requires versatile and high-performance instrumentation capable of: 1. Quantitative measurements of trace levels (e.g., ≤ ppmw) of organic and inorganic compounds over a wide range of volatility, ionization potential and molecular weight; 2. Selective excitation and isolation of targeted mass ranges for enhanced signal-to-noise (and by extension limits-of-detection) and controlled ion manipulation and ejection; 3. Induced fragmentation of parent molecules and structural analysis of daughter ions via tandem mass spectrometry (i.e., MS/MS operations) for the differentiation of isomers; 4. Mass discrimination and disambiguation of isotopologues and isobaric interferences with high-resolution of 50,000-100,000 (FWHM at m/z=100 Th) and mass accuracy of 5-20 ppm for ions with mass between 50 and 2000 u; and 5. Measurements of enantiomeric excess using a gas chromatograph and derivatization. The proposed Advanced Resolution Organic Molecule Analyzer (AROMA) instrument will meet all of these performance requirements by integrating a technically mature, highly capable linear ion trap (LIT) with a high-resolution OrbitrapTM mass analyzer in an efficient and compact system. The AROMA instrument design leverages efforts at NASA GSFC to design and improve upon the linear ion trap for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) mass spectrometer for the ExoMars 2022 rover and experience gained in the development of an orbitrap instrument prototype for the Characterization of Ocean Residues and Life Signatures (CORALS) instrument for a Europa lander. The high heritage LIT front end of AROMA will be interfaced to a streamlined set of ion optics that will serve to collimate, compress and accelerate (“crunch and punch”) ions ejected towards an advanced (TRL5) Orbitrap mass analyzer that has been adapted for spaceflight by the CosmOrbitrap Consortium (Co-Is from France). Together, these components define an innovative and potentially game-changing instrument capable of high-sensitivity and high-resolution mass spectrometry in addition to organic structural analysis. The maturation of the AROMA instrument will build on the PICASSO funded AROMA project to incorporate a matured laser and laser injection optics, an extended mass range, and ensure compatibility with ocean worlds and primitive bodies. Environmental testing will be performed to ensure the instrument can withstand general environmental level vibration and shock, thermal cycling, and dry heat microbial reduction consistent with planetary targets.