Ultraviolet Laser Development for Planetary Lander Missions

Mass spectrometers represent progressive analytical platforms for future in situ lander missions to explore the surface chemistry of planetary bodies. Europa (as an astrobiology objective) and the Moon (an extension of the terrestrial system) are two primary targets for future NASA missions to search for extraterrestrial life and potentially habitable environments beyond Earth, further our understanding of the timing and formation of the Solar System, and identify potentially viable economic resources such as water and/or valuable metal assets. The CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues And Life Signatures) and CRATER (Characterization of Regolith And Trace Economic Resources) instruments are laser-based Orbitrap™ mass spectrometers currently under development for prospective lander missions to Europa and the Moon, respectively. We report on the advancement of two compact, robust, and high technology readiness level (TRL) ultraviolet (UV) solid state lasers that serve as the sampling and ionization sources of these two investigations.