In Situ Instruments and Instrument Components for Lunar and Planetary Science

Subtopic Problem Statement/Description: This subtopic solicits development of instruments and instrument components suitable for deployment on in situ planetary and lunar missions. To narrow the critical gaps between the current state of art and the technology needed for the ever-increasing science and exploration requirements, in situ technologies are being sought to increase instrument resolution and sensitivity and/or reduce mass, power, and volume as well as increase data rates without loss of scientific capability. Of particular interest are technologies to support future missions described in the National Research Council Planetary Decadal Survey report "Origin, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032" (hereafter referred to as the Planetary Decadal Survey) and/or in the "Artemis III Science Definition Team (SDT) Report." Novel instrument concepts are encouraged, particularly if they enable a new class of scientific discovery. Technology developments relevant to multiple environments and platforms are also desired. Specifically, the subtopic is seeking instruments/components that provide significant advances to address the following critical gaps: (Higher priority) Technologies that enable or improve measurement capabilities for lunar and Mars science missions (such as New Frontiers, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), Commercial Mars Payload Services (CMPS), and Artemis). Examples include technologies relevant to geotechnical/physical characterization, environmental monitoring, volatile monitoring, site assessment and sample containment and return, as well as handheld instruments/components. (Higher priority) Technologies relevant to detection and/or identification of organic molecules (including biomolecules), salts, and/or minerals on Mars, ocean worlds, and other bodies, whether present as soluble/extractable molecules or insoluble particles/organic matter. Examples include high-resolution gas for liquid chromatographs, miniaturized mass spectrometers and their drive electronics (e.g., radio frequency (RF) tanks) and front-end/back-end advancements (e.g., electrospray ionization sources, lasers, ion mobility sources/separators, RF guides/funnels, pumps), isotope analyzers, dust detectors, organic analysis instruments with chiral discrimination, microscopes that characterize micro/nano-scale particle structure, morphology and/or spatial distributions of chemical functionalities, x-ray spectrometers, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, electrochemical methods, nanopore technologies, etc.). These developments should be geared towards analyzing and handling very small sample sizes (microgram to milligram) with concentrations appropriate for the relevant planetary bodies, and/or low column densities/abundances. Instruments capable of monitoring the bulk chemical composition and physical characteristics of gas samples and ice particles such as the plume (density, velocity, variation with time, etc.). (High priority) Seismometers, mass analyzers, heat flow probes, and trace-gas detectors with improved robustness and high-g-force survivability that are applicable to impactor deployment to the surface of Mars to the surface of Mars. Technologies for quantifying lunar water and measuring the D/H ratio in lunar water and other solar system destinations. The proposed technologies must directly address lunar and/or planetary science instrumentation needs and must be capable of withstanding operation in space and planetary environments, including the expected pressures, radiation levels, launch and impact stresses, and range of survival and operational temperatures. Novel instrument concepts are encouraged, particularly if they enable a new class of scientific discovery. Technology developments relevant to multiple environments and platforms are also desired.