Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) laser desorption/ionization source design and performance characterization

The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) Instrument: Characterization of Organic Material in Martian Sediments

“…Chlorite clays are of high interest for potential detection on Mars and in particular could be a pointer to burial, and organic preservation, processes if found in a bedding relationship with smectite clays, already identified at Oxia Planum ( Section 1 ). Coronene is readily detected at this concentration level at low-to-moderate laser pulse energies relative to the MOMA laser range (see also Li et al , 2017 ). The mass spectrum of the spiked sample showed a dominant base peak associated with the molecular ion of coronene at m/z 300.…”

“…MOMA's LDMS mode (Li et al , 2017 ) provides a rapid and essentially nondestructive method to analyze the higher-molecular-weight (up to 1000 u) organic content of a crushed sample before detailed analysis by pyrolysis GCMS. The LDMS experiment consists of the following major steps: (1) LDMS analysis of the MOMA calibration target at a fixed laser energy, (2) rotation of the carousel to a designated sample location in the refillable container, (3) LDMS analysis under an autonomous ramp of increasing laser shot count and pulse energy, and (4) repetition of (2) and (3) for at least two addition sample locations.…”

“…After data collected during the most recent sol are downlinked to the ExoMars science operations center, the MOMA science team will have an opportunity to provide a preliminary processing step to generate quicklook products suitable for rapid decision-making. Aside from basic health and quality checks, LDMS data will be reviewed for general features of interest, and a consensus decision will be made to recommend one of three potential next steps: (1) pursue a detailed follow-up LDMS investigation of a set of individual peaks or mass-to-charge ranges of interest by SWIFT isolation and MS/MS fragment analysis (Li et al , 2017 ), (2) investigate the organic composition further by delivering sample from the crusher to a pyrolysis oven for the MOMA GC mode, or (3) defer or end the investigation of the current sample in favor of further analyses by other ALD instruments and/or continued rover operations in pursuit of a new sample. Option (1) would likely be invoked for a rich mass spectrum that exhibited one or several high-intensity peaks at mid- or high-molecular-weight matching patterns consistent with organic composition.…”

Investigating the Effect of Perchlorate on Flight-like Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry as Performed by MOMA on board the ExoMars 2020 Rover

“…MOMA will examine martian samples by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDMS) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (Goesmann et al, 2017;Li et al, 2017). GC-MS provides the opportunity to separate and identify organics with high sensitivity and is therefore well suited to search for molecular biosignatures in extraterrestrial samples (Summons et al, 2008).…”

A mission-enabling UV laser for mass spectrometry (UVMS) with continuously selectable output for in-situ planetary exploration

“…An example of a spaceflight implementation of a laser desorption mass spectrometer is the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument onboard ESA's ExoMars rover. 1 The MOMA laser produces 266 nm laser pulses, directed at targeted samples of Martian surface and subsurface materials (as deep as 2 m), in order to generate enough ions to fill the linear ion trap mass analyzer. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20190001945 2020-07-10T17:00:02+00:00Z…”