MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation

J. H. Waite; J. L. Burch; T. G. Brockwell; D. T. Young; G. P. Miller; S. C. Persyn; J. M. Stone; P. Wilson; K. E. Miller; C. R. Glein; R. S. Perryman; M. A. McGrath; S. J. Bolton; W. B. McKinnon; O. Mousis; M. A. Sephton; E. L. Shock; M. Choukroun; B. D. Teolis; D. Y. Wyrick; Mikhail Zolotov; C. Ray; A. L. Magoncelli; R. R. Raffanti; R. L. Thorpe; A. Bouquet; T. L. Salter; K. J. Robinson; C. Urdiales; Y. D. Tyler; G. J. Dirks; C. R. Beebe; D. A. Fugett; J. A. Alexander; J. J. Hanley; Z. A. Moorhead-Rosenberg; K. A. Franke; K. S. Pickens; R. J. Focia; B. A. Magee; P. J. Hoeper; D. P. Aaron; S. L. Thompson; K. B. Persson; R. C. Blase; G. F. Dunn; R. L. Killough; A. De Los Santos; R. J. Rickerson; O. H.W. Siegmund

doi:10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation

J. H. Waite, J. L. Burch, T. G. Brockwell, D. T. Young, G. P. Miller, S. C. Persyn, J. M. Stone, P. Wilson, K. E. Miller, C. R. Glein, R. S. Perryman, M. A. McGrath, S. J. Bolton, W. B. McKinnon, O. Mousis, M. A. Sephton, E. L. Shock, M. Choukroun, B. D. Teolis, D. Y. WyrickMikhail Zolotov, C. Ray, A. L. Magoncelli, R. R. Raffanti, R. L. Thorpe, A. Bouquet, T. L. Salter, K. J. Robinson, C. Urdiales, Y. D. Tyler, G. J. Dirks, C. R. Beebe, D. A. Fugett, J. A. Alexander, J. J. Hanley, Z. A. Moorhead-Rosenberg, K. A. Franke, K. S. Pickens, R. J. Focia, B. A. Magee, P. J. Hoeper, D. P. Aaron, S. L. Thompson, K. B. Persson, R. C. Blase, G. F. Dunn, R. L. Killough, A. De Los Santos, R. J. Rickerson, O. H.W. Siegmund

Earth and Space Exploration, School of (SESE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX) is a high-mass-resolution, high-sensitivity, multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) capable of measuring minor species with abundances of sub-parts-per-million in Europa’s sputter-produced and radiolytically modified exosphere and in its oceanic plumes. The goal of the MASPEX-Europa investigation is to determine, through in-situ measurement of the exosphere and plume composition, whether the conditions for habitability exist or have existed on Europa. As conventionally defined, based on our knowledge of Earth life, the three fundamental conditions for habitability are: (1) the presence of liquid water; (2) the presence of organic compounds and the biogenic elements CHNOPS; and (3) a source of energy available for metabolic processes, which for Europa will most probably be chemosynthetic rather than photosynthetic. Condition (1) is already established by previous indirect (magnetic field) measurements, while MASPEX will contribute directly to the evaluation of condition (2) through highly specific compositional measurements in the Europan exosphere and plumes. The composition measurements will also contribute to the test of condition (3) through disequilibrium states of chemical reactions. Thus, the primary goal of MASPEX for Europa Clipper is to assess the habitability of Europa and specifically of its interior ocean. MASPEX has been developed successfully, and its calibration has demonstrated that it meets its specified requirements for sensitivity, dynamic range, and mass resolution. This paper reports the development of the MASPEX scientific investigation, the instrument, its performance, and calibration.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	30
Journal	Space Science Reviews
Volume	220
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6
State	Published - Apr 2024

Keywords

Galilean Moons
Habitability
NASA Clipper Mission
Space-based high-resolution mass spectrometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

Cite this

Waite, J. H., Burch, J. L., Brockwell, T. G., Young, D. T., Miller, G. P., Persyn, S. C., Stone, J. M., Wilson, P., Miller, K. E., Glein, C. R., Perryman, R. S., McGrath, M. A., Bolton, S. J., McKinnon, W. B., Mousis, O., Sephton, M. A., Shock, E. L., Choukroun, M., Teolis, B. D., ... Siegmund, O. H. W. (2024). MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation. Space Science Reviews, 220(3), Article 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

Waite, JH, Burch, JL, Brockwell, TG, Young, DT, Miller, GP, Persyn, SC, Stone, JM, Wilson, P, Miller, KE, Glein, CR, Perryman, RS, McGrath, MA, Bolton, SJ, McKinnon, WB, Mousis, O, Sephton, MA, Shock, EL, Choukroun, M, Teolis, BD, Wyrick, DY, Zolotov, M, Ray, C, Magoncelli, AL, Raffanti, RR, Thorpe, RL, Bouquet, A, Salter, TL, Robinson, KJ, Urdiales, C, Tyler, YD, Dirks, GJ, Beebe, CR, Fugett, DA, Alexander, JA, Hanley, JJ, Moorhead-Rosenberg, ZA, Franke, KA, Pickens, KS, Focia, RJ, Magee, BA, Hoeper, PJ, Aaron, DP, Thompson, SL, Persson, KB, Blase, RC, Dunn, GF, Killough, RL, De Los Santos, A, Rickerson, RJ & Siegmund, OHW 2024, 'MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation', Space Science Reviews, vol. 220, no. 3, 30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

@article{ab9d8d0e66a847c4b12f6215d62d0769,

title = "MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation",

abstract = "The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX) is a high-mass-resolution, high-sensitivity, multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) capable of measuring minor species with abundances of sub-parts-per-million in Europa{\textquoteright}s sputter-produced and radiolytically modified exosphere and in its oceanic plumes. The goal of the MASPEX-Europa investigation is to determine, through in-situ measurement of the exosphere and plume composition, whether the conditions for habitability exist or have existed on Europa. As conventionally defined, based on our knowledge of Earth life, the three fundamental conditions for habitability are: (1) the presence of liquid water; (2) the presence of organic compounds and the biogenic elements CHNOPS; and (3) a source of energy available for metabolic processes, which for Europa will most probably be chemosynthetic rather than photosynthetic. Condition (1) is already established by previous indirect (magnetic field) measurements, while MASPEX will contribute directly to the evaluation of condition (2) through highly specific compositional measurements in the Europan exosphere and plumes. The composition measurements will also contribute to the test of condition (3) through disequilibrium states of chemical reactions. Thus, the primary goal of MASPEX for Europa Clipper is to assess the habitability of Europa and specifically of its interior ocean. MASPEX has been developed successfully, and its calibration has demonstrated that it meets its specified requirements for sensitivity, dynamic range, and mass resolution. This paper reports the development of the MASPEX scientific investigation, the instrument, its performance, and calibration.",

keywords = "Galilean Moons, Habitability, NASA Clipper Mission, Space-based high-resolution mass spectrometry",

author = "Waite, {J. H.} and Burch, {J. L.} and Brockwell, {T. G.} and Young, {D. T.} and Miller, {G. P.} and Persyn, {S. C.} and Stone, {J. M.} and P. Wilson and Miller, {K. E.} and Glein, {C. R.} and Perryman, {R. S.} and McGrath, {M. A.} and Bolton, {S. J.} and McKinnon, {W. B.} and O. Mousis and Sephton, {M. A.} and Shock, {E. L.} and M. Choukroun and Teolis, {B. D.} and Wyrick, {D. Y.} and Mikhail Zolotov and C. Ray and Magoncelli, {A. L.} and Raffanti, {R. R.} and Thorpe, {R. L.} and A. Bouquet and Salter, {T. L.} and Robinson, {K. J.} and C. Urdiales and Tyler, {Y. D.} and Dirks, {G. J.} and Beebe, {C. R.} and Fugett, {D. A.} and Alexander, {J. A.} and Hanley, {J. J.} and Moorhead-Rosenberg, {Z. A.} and Franke, {K. A.} and Pickens, {K. S.} and Focia, {R. J.} and Magee, {B. A.} and Hoeper, {P. J.} and Aaron, {D. P.} and Thompson, {S. L.} and Persson, {K. B.} and Blase, {R. C.} and Dunn, {G. F.} and Killough, {R. L.} and {De Los Santos}, A. and Rickerson, {R. J.} and Siegmund, {O. H.W.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "220",

journal = "Space Science Reviews",

issn = "0038-6308",

publisher = "Springer Netherlands",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - MASPEX-Europa

T2 - The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation

AU - Waite, J. H.

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Brockwell, T. G.

AU - Young, D. T.

AU - Miller, G. P.

AU - Persyn, S. C.

AU - Stone, J. M.

AU - Wilson, P.

AU - Miller, K. E.

AU - Glein, C. R.

AU - Perryman, R. S.

AU - McGrath, M. A.

AU - Bolton, S. J.

AU - McKinnon, W. B.

AU - Mousis, O.

AU - Sephton, M. A.

AU - Shock, E. L.

AU - Choukroun, M.

AU - Teolis, B. D.

AU - Wyrick, D. Y.

AU - Zolotov, Mikhail

AU - Ray, C.

AU - Magoncelli, A. L.

AU - Raffanti, R. R.

AU - Thorpe, R. L.

AU - Bouquet, A.

AU - Salter, T. L.

AU - Robinson, K. J.

AU - Urdiales, C.

AU - Tyler, Y. D.

AU - Dirks, G. J.

AU - Beebe, C. R.

AU - Fugett, D. A.

AU - Alexander, J. A.

AU - Hanley, J. J.

AU - Moorhead-Rosenberg, Z. A.

AU - Franke, K. A.

AU - Pickens, K. S.

AU - Focia, R. J.

AU - Magee, B. A.

AU - Hoeper, P. J.

AU - Aaron, D. P.

AU - Thompson, S. L.

AU - Persson, K. B.

AU - Blase, R. C.

AU - Dunn, G. F.

AU - Killough, R. L.

AU - De Los Santos, A.

AU - Rickerson, R. J.

AU - Siegmund, O. H.W.

PY - 2024/4

Y1 - 2024/4

N2 - The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX) is a high-mass-resolution, high-sensitivity, multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) capable of measuring minor species with abundances of sub-parts-per-million in Europa’s sputter-produced and radiolytically modified exosphere and in its oceanic plumes. The goal of the MASPEX-Europa investigation is to determine, through in-situ measurement of the exosphere and plume composition, whether the conditions for habitability exist or have existed on Europa. As conventionally defined, based on our knowledge of Earth life, the three fundamental conditions for habitability are: (1) the presence of liquid water; (2) the presence of organic compounds and the biogenic elements CHNOPS; and (3) a source of energy available for metabolic processes, which for Europa will most probably be chemosynthetic rather than photosynthetic. Condition (1) is already established by previous indirect (magnetic field) measurements, while MASPEX will contribute directly to the evaluation of condition (2) through highly specific compositional measurements in the Europan exosphere and plumes. The composition measurements will also contribute to the test of condition (3) through disequilibrium states of chemical reactions. Thus, the primary goal of MASPEX for Europa Clipper is to assess the habitability of Europa and specifically of its interior ocean. MASPEX has been developed successfully, and its calibration has demonstrated that it meets its specified requirements for sensitivity, dynamic range, and mass resolution. This paper reports the development of the MASPEX scientific investigation, the instrument, its performance, and calibration.

AB - The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX) is a high-mass-resolution, high-sensitivity, multi-bounce time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MBTOF) capable of measuring minor species with abundances of sub-parts-per-million in Europa’s sputter-produced and radiolytically modified exosphere and in its oceanic plumes. The goal of the MASPEX-Europa investigation is to determine, through in-situ measurement of the exosphere and plume composition, whether the conditions for habitability exist or have existed on Europa. As conventionally defined, based on our knowledge of Earth life, the three fundamental conditions for habitability are: (1) the presence of liquid water; (2) the presence of organic compounds and the biogenic elements CHNOPS; and (3) a source of energy available for metabolic processes, which for Europa will most probably be chemosynthetic rather than photosynthetic. Condition (1) is already established by previous indirect (magnetic field) measurements, while MASPEX will contribute directly to the evaluation of condition (2) through highly specific compositional measurements in the Europan exosphere and plumes. The composition measurements will also contribute to the test of condition (3) through disequilibrium states of chemical reactions. Thus, the primary goal of MASPEX for Europa Clipper is to assess the habitability of Europa and specifically of its interior ocean. MASPEX has been developed successfully, and its calibration has demonstrated that it meets its specified requirements for sensitivity, dynamic range, and mass resolution. This paper reports the development of the MASPEX scientific investigation, the instrument, its performance, and calibration.

KW - Galilean Moons

KW - Habitability

KW - NASA Clipper Mission

KW - Space-based high-resolution mass spectrometry

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170370513&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85170370513&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

DO - 10.1007/s11214-024-01061-6

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85170370513

SN - 0038-6308

VL - 220

JO - Space Science Reviews

JF - Space Science Reviews

IS - 3

M1 - 30

ER -

MASPEX-Europa: The Europa Clipper Neutral Gas Mass Spectrometer Investigation

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this