The Analog GCMS Laboratory is hosted within GSFC's Planetary Environments Laboratory (code 699) and focuses on unique preparations of organic bearing samples that simulate collection and/or processing by flight missions or mission concepts.

Equipment

The Analog GCMS Laboratory hosts the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) breadboard oven and the Planetary Ice Plume Simulator (PIPS).

The Planetary Ice Plume Simulator is a compact flight tube capable of generating ice grains via electrospray and accelerating them to several km/s velocity. The PIPS flight tube is a high-vacuum, clean environment with high flexibility for interfacing with analytical instruments, collection devices, and hardware. Existing default interfaces comprise an electrometer for measuring particle size and speed, and a cryogenic collector for grain sample accumulation. The PIPS enables research on the physical and chemical properties of icy plumes and products of hypervelocity impact or generation of planetary materials (e.g., regolith) by microscopic icy grains. The PIPS will support spaceflight investigations of relatively particle-dense environments such as rings, low-altitude (cryo-) volcanic plume flybys at Io, Europa, Enceladus, or Triton, or close approaches of active comet nuclei. The PIPS is a new technology as of 2022 and is undergoing verification and validation of its operation.

The Planetary Ice Plume Simulator (PIPS)

People

Jennifer Eigenbrode
Lab Manager and Manager of PIPS

Marc Neveu
Science Lead of PIPS (main contact)

Melissa Trainer
Manager of DraMS breadboard oven

Lab Manager: Steve Bates and Christine Knudson

This portion of the lab houses a Setaram TG/DSC/EGA system coupled to a Pfeiffer MS. This instrument allows for the concurrent measurement of mass loss or gain, thermal decomposition, and the identification of evolved gasses (e.g., CO₂, H₂O, SO₂) from heated samples using the mass spectrometer under He gas flow. This instrument supports the analyses of rocks, minerals, and mineral mixtures under MSL SAM-like conditions.

The stable isotope analytical facility consists of two Thermo Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) Instrument Suites:

1. Thermo Scientific™Delta V Plus IRMS with:
   • Thermo Scientific™ Trace Ultra GC with Isolink system for compound specific isotope analysis of organics
   • Thermo Scientific™ Thermo Flash EA Isolink for analysis of solid and liquid samples by combustion and HTC (High Temperature Conversion)
   • Thermo Scientific™ Gas Bench for headspace sampling of atmospheric gasses
   • Thermo Scientific™ Precon device used for atmospheric trace gas measurements including CH₄ and N₂O
   • Thermo Scientific™ ConFlo IV — a universal continuous flow control interface between the IRMS and two sample preparation devices
   • Additional focus quadrupole for enhanced detection limits
2. Thermo Scientific Delta V Advantage IRMS with:
   • Thermo Scientific™ ConFlo IV — a universal continuous flow control interface between the IRMS and two sample preparation devices:
   • Thermo Scientific™ GasBench device — on-line gas preparation and introduction system used for high-precision isotope and molecular ratio determination of gaseous samples via headspace sampling. Applications include analysis of water equilibration, carbonates, and atmospheric gasses
   • Thermo Scientific™ Flash HT Plus Elemental Analyzer — Combustion and High temperature conversion (HTC) device used for concentration measurements and gas preparation for IRMS analysis of a wide range of solid and liquid samples.

Additionally, the lab has a Picarro L2130-i High Precision Isotopic Water Analyzer for hydrogen and oxygen isotopic analysis of water and a Picarro G2201-i CO₂ and CH₄ isotope analyzer for lab use and field deployment. The facility also has a Thermo Trace 1310 GC coupled with ISQ mass spectrometer and FID for compositional analysis and quantification. An autosampler feeds one GC inlet and the other is connected to a CDS 6200 Pyroprobe. The facility supports studies of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen isotope systematics in planetary analog materials including those collected in the field and those generated by experiments. In addition, this facility supports instrument development for stable isotope measurements and molecular identification and quantification.

Lab Manager: Steve Bates

The Clean Prep Laboratory is used for the preparation of geochemical materials that require a clean environment to prevent contamination from other samples or people during sample preparation and processing. Laboratory equipment includes: Mettler-Toledo balances, large muffle furnace used for ashing, a Thermo Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer, and an Eltra CW800M H₂O/CO₂ analyzer for quantification of total water and CO₂ in bulk materials.

Lab Manager: Christine Knudson

The Dirty Prep Laboratory serves as a sample processing and preparation space for samples that do not need to be kept organically 'clean' for later analyses. This space is mainly used for clay separation and rock/mineral/sediment processing and/or separation.

The equipment in this lab includes:

• Centrifuge
• Finger sonicator
• Drying oven
• Vacuum oven
• Vacuum Pump
• Mortars & Pestles

Key Staff
Angela Chung
Heather Graham (691)
Christine Knudson
Amy McAdam*
Mike Thorpe*

Lab Manager: Christine Knudson

The Field Staging Room serves as a space for preparing and packing field sampling materials, instruments, and equipment, as well as a place for cataloging and sorting, of collected field samples for preliminary laboratory analyses. This space is also used to set up and test or troubleshoot field portable instruments before deployment.

Key Staff
Jennifer Eigenbrode*
Christine Knudson*
Amy McAdam*
Jennifer Stern
Bethany Theiling
Mike Thorpe

Lab Manager: Christine Knudson

This small Microscopy Lab houses both the biological and petrographic microscopes. Both of these microscopes can be connected to the computer to capture photos. There is also a Phenom desktop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which is used to determine qualitative elemental chemistry and for imaging of microscopic materials and features.

The Organic Biogeochemistry Laboratory is hosted within GSFC's Planetary Environments Laboratory (code 699) and is a general wet chemistry lab facility that supports sample collection, in situ analysis (in lab or field), sample preparation, and storage for a variety of planetary analogs including natural and synthetic rock, sediment, and ice materials. Studies largely focus on understanding the sources and processes that influence the detection and nature of organic materials, particularly those deemed to be analogs for Mars, Enceladus, and Europa. All projects are managed for contamination control of the facility. Samples prepared in this lab are analyzed using instrumentation in the Planetary Environments Laboratory, such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) of the Organic Processing and Analysis Laboratory.

Equipment

The lab hosts an ion chromatography mass spectrometer, handheld electrodes and photometers for pH/conductivity/Eh/ISEs metering, handheld adenosine triphosphate (ATP) luminometers, handheld endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) meter. Support equipment for preparing samples for analyses include: a Labconco acid-compatible Centrivap with 105°C cold trap, a rotary evaporator with glass mixing jars, a large Soxhlet extractor for solvent extraction of sediments or other materials, other solvent extraction equipment, ASTM Type I water source (Ultra-clean), planetary ball mill with stainless steel mixing jars, cold sample storage (4°C, -20°C, -80°C available), ashing oven baking glassware, glassware, and chemical standards.

Organic Biogeochemistry Laboratory - East Side

Organic Biogeochemistry Laboratory - West Side

Cold storage for analog samples (two -20°C freezers and one PEL-shared -80°C freezer)

People

Jennifer Eigenbrode
Lab Manager

James M. T. Lewis

Current High School, Undergraduate, Graduate Students, and Post-Bacs

• Sarinah Wahl (2022- )

Alumni Staff

• Ross Williams (2018-2021)
• Greg Wong (2018-2019)
• Amy Williams (2014-2015)
• Dominic Tobler (2009)
• Melissa Floyd (2010-2014)

Alumni High School, Undergraduate, Post-Bacs., and Graduate Students

• Max Craddock (2019)
• Allison Fox (2017)
• Alex Spigler (2015)
• Mary Beth Wilhelm (2012-2014)
• Hannah Bower (2012-2013)
• Stamatina Hunter (2010)
• Svetlana Shkolyar (2010)
• Charlotte Carlstrom (2008)
• Heidi Owens (2007)

The Organic Processing and Analysis Laboratory (OPAL) is hosted within GSFC’s Planetary Environments Laboratory (code 699). OPAL focuses on understanding the sources and processes that influence the detection and nature of organic materials in atmospheres, rocks, sediments, and ice, particularly those deemed to be analogs for Mars and ocean worlds such as Titan. Key topics of lab and field study include the synthesis of organics in planetary environments, effects of ionizing radiation on organics, organic-mineral interactions, organic molecular contamination control, technology developments for life signature detection, and life-detection science strategies.

Equipment

The OPAL lab includes two large chemical fume hoods that host experimental simulations relevant to Titan: impact crater environments and photochemical aerosol formation. There is a custom gas mixing system and a refrigerator/freezer storage unit that houses simulated crater samples (4°C, -20°C). OPAL gas and aerosol instrumentation includes a TSI Atomizer Aerosol Generator (3079A), a TSI Diffusion Dryer (3062), a TSI Hand-held Condensation Particle Counter (3007), and a Pfeiffer Prisma RGA.

Titan Simulation Lab Area

Cold storage for simulant samples (4°C and -20°C)

OPAL GCMS instrumentation used to support studies include pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (i.e. evolved gas analysis, EGA) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). Instrumentation includes two Agilent 7890A-inert XL 5975C GCMSs with flame ionization and electron capture detectors, one field portable Agilent LTM-5875T GCMS, and one Agilent 8890A-7000D with hydrogen carrier gas (convertible to a 7010 with HES source under helium carrier gas) for GC-triple quad mass spectrometry. Four Frontier laboratories PY-3030D pyrolizers and autosamplers support analyses. Support facilities include a hydrogen generator and gas purifications (not shown). Analyses often include inline sample processing, such as inert pyrolysis, low pressure hydropyrolysis (with H2), derivatizations, and thermochemolysis/pyrolysis or thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM) using alkaline reagents at a variety of temperature and conditions.

GCMS Instrumentation

People

Jennifer Eigenbrode
Lab Manager and Lead for OPAL GCMS instrumentation

Melissa Trainer
Lead of OPAL gas and aerosol instrumentation

James M. T. Lewis

Kendra Farnsworth

Adrian Southard

Current High School, Undergraduate, Graduate Students, and Post-Bacs

• Sarinah Wahl (2022- )
• Alex Mikulich (2020- )

Alumni Staff

• Ross Williams (2018-2021)
• Greg Wong (2018-2019)
• Amy Williams (2014-2015)
• Melissa Floyd (2010-2014)
• Dominic Tobler (2009)

Alumni High School, Undergraduate, Post-Bacs., and Graduate Students

• Max Craddock (2019)
• Victoria DaPoian (2019-2021)
• Madeline Roach (2017-2019)
• Melissa Ugelow (2017)
• Allison Fox (2017)
• Thomas Gautier (2014-2016)
• Christophe Mathé (2016)
• Allison Wold (2016)
• Alex Spigler (2015)
• Chase Duffy (2015)
• Mary Beth Wilhelm (2012-2014)
• Hannah Bower (2012-2013)
• Margaret Marvin (2012)
• Joshua Sebree
• Stephan Bien-Aime (2011)
• Stamatina Hunter (2010)
• Svetlana Shkolyar (2010)
• Charlotte Carlstrom (2008)
• Heidi Owens (2007)

The Orbitrap Research and Development Lab (ORDL) houses instruments that incorporate high mass resolution, high mass accuracy mass analyzers called OrbitrapsTM . These mass analyzers have been sold by Thermo-Fisher since 2005 and enable determination of exact molecular formulas for most compounds under 500 Daltons. The ORDL focuses on highly confident chemical analysis of terrestrial materials and planetary analogs using technologically advanced hardware miniaturized and ruggedized for spaceflight applications and the in situ exploration of planetary surfaces.

Equipment

The lab houses three novel instrument prototypes resulting from a strong collaboration between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Univ. of Maryland, College Park with support from colleagues at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). These include CORALS (Characterization of Ocean Residues and Life Signatures) an instrument developed for a Europa lander, CRATER (Characterization of Regolith and Trace Economic Resources) and instrument for the Moon, and AROMA (Advanced Resolution Organic Molecular Analyzer), a versatile instrument for airless bodies. All three instruments leverage UV lasers to ionize both refractory and mildly volatile compounds (laser desorption/ablation ionization). Each instrument has a laser desorption inlet uniquely designed for the type of target they expect to analyze and Crater brandishes a deeper (213 nm) laser. They also utilize a MEMS stirrer mirror to raster the laser across the sample and see how composition varies across the field of view. AROMA is the largest instrument and, unlike CORALS and CRATER, includes a heritage linear ion trap integrated to an Orbitrap mimicking the functionality of Thermo-Fischer’s LTQ Orbitrap XL instrument. This integration combines the capabilities of a linear ion trap, namely tandem mass spectrometry, e.g. MSn , which informs helps to resolve molecular structure, with the high mas resolution/accuracy of the Orbitrap. . Furthermore, it incorporates an electron ionization source that can analyze volatile compounds. To date, CORALS prototypes have analyzed and detected salts, amino acids, nucleobases, fatty acids, dyes, 3mer and 4mer peptides, mineralogical standards, and meteorites. In the future, this lab will continue to incorporate additional analytical techniques to further resolve molecular structure.

The Welding Lab houses the only electron beam welder at GSFC. Capabilities of this lab include precision welding of mass spectrometer housings, miniature components and automated orbital TIG welding of plumbing lines. Welders are Marvin Noreiga, Bobby Whippo and Ryan Wilkinson.

This Lab is the location of the major assembly and fabrication of mass spectrometer components for code 699. Parts are custom fabricated, inspected, and assembled prior to final assembly in a cleanroom environment. Precision assemblers are Joe Cushen, Marvin Noreiga, Mike Sampson and Lonnie Whippo.

Ultra-precision components of the mass spectrometer instruments are manufactured in-house, where we can ensure the highest quality and tolerances. Machinists in this facility: John Bozic and Felix Noreiga.

Lab Manager: Christine Knudson

As part of the Mineralogy Laboratories, the Rock Prep Room houses the machinery needed to process and separate whole rocks into smaller size fractions for analytical analyses. This space houses a rock crusher, McCrone Mill, and a sieve shaker.

Key Staff
Christine Knudson*
Amy McAdam*
Mike Thorpe

*Denotes lab POC

Lab Manager: Christine Knudson

The X-Ray Mineralogy Laboratory aims to understand the formation, evolution, and habitability of planetary environments through studies of mineralogy (with X-Ray Diffraction) and chemistry (with X-Ray Fluorescence analyses) of planetary analog rocks, minerals, and sediments. Instruments in this room include:

• Bruker D8 X-Ray Diffractometer - Cu Kα radiation; rotation, XYZ, and heating stages
• Bruker M4 Tornado X-Ray Fluorescence instrument - Rh Kα radiation; 1 mm beam diameter
• Terra X-Ray Diffractometer - Co Kα radiation; 5-55° 2theta; this instrument is similar to the CheMin instrument on the Curiosity rover

Key Staff
Christine Knudson*
Amy McAdam*
Madeline Raith (Student Intern)
Mike Thorpe*