The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument onboard the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars rover (to launch in July, 2020) will analyze volatile and refractory organic compounds in martian surface and subsurface sediments. In this study, we describe the design, current status of development, and analytical capabilities of the instrument. Data acquired on preliminary MOMA flight-like hardware and experimental setups are also presented, illustrating their contribution to the overall science return of the mission. Key Words: Mars—Mass spectrometry—Life detection—Planetary instrumentation. Astrobiology 17, 655–685.

Using the electronic shell closure criteria, we propose a new electron counting rule that enables us to predict the size, composition, and structure of many hitherto unknown magic clusters consisting of hydrogen and aluminum atoms. This rule, whose validity is established through a synergy between first-principles calculations and anion-photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, provides a powerful basis for searching magic clusters consisting of hydrogen and simple metal atoms.

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