{"id":28653,"date":"2023-01-06T10:18:55","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T10:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=28653"},"modified":"2023-01-06T10:19:31","modified_gmt":"2023-01-06T10:19:31","slug":"mass-spectrometer-ready-for-integration-on-nasas-europa-clipper-spacecraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/mass-spectrometer-ready-for-integration-on-nasas-europa-clipper-spacecraft\/28653\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass spectrometer ready for integration on NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper spacecraft"},"content":{"rendered":"
Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in 2024, arriving in the Jovian system by 2030, where it will perform a comprehensive scientific analysis of the moon Europa, investigating whether it holds conditions suitable to support life. The spacecraft is outfitted with a plethora of advanced instruments to facilitate this goal, with the new mass spectrometer developed by SwRI being crucial to the mission\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
Steve Persyn, project manager for MASPEX and a program director in SwRI\u2019s Space Systems Division, commented: \u201cIt has been a huge team effort to get this next-generation space mass spectrometer built, tested and delivered. SwRI has decades of experience designing and building instruments for space missions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration (MASPEX)\u00a0instrument is one of nine onboard Europa Clipper\u2019s payload, which also includes Europa-UVS, an Ultraviolet Spectrograph also developed by SwRI.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival, Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter, performing a series of close flybys to the icy moon. MASPEX will investigate the gases in proximity to Europa to understand the chemistry of its surface, atmosphere, and potential subsurface ocean. The mass spectrometer will also analyse how Jupiter\u2019s radiation affects Europa\u2019s surface compounds and how materials are exchanged between its icy surface and subsurface ocean.<\/p>\n
MASPEX works by obtaining gas molecules from Europa\u2019s surface and converting them into charged particles known as ions. The mass spectrometer bounces the ions up to 400 times back and forth within the instrument and, by timing their transit, measures the mass of the ions. This reveals vital information about each molecule and helps determine if the moon can sustain life.<\/p>\n