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| Titel |
An RF-powered micro-extractor for the detection of astrobiological target molecules. |
| VerfasserIn |
V. J. Scott, X. Amashukeli, P. H. Siegel, A. Fisher, Y. Bae, R. Toda |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2012
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 14 (2012) |
| Datensatznummer |
250068512
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Major goals of space exploration are to look for extant or extinct life (i.e. chemical biomarker
molecules) and to determine the factors that make an environment habitable; an extension of
this goal is to better understand prebiotic chemistry and the features that allow life to occur.
In situ detection remains the most widely used method in missions that address these
questions. Missions to astrobiological or geochemical planetary targets will require an
efficient and non-altering extraction technique for efficient detection and characterization of
biomarkers. Two new instruments are described that have been developed for use in the
exploration of Mars — a target that attracts considerable attention from the astrobiology
community; however it will be applicable to any mission requiring in situ analysis
of planetary regolith and ice. The first of these instruments is a micro-extractor
(μEX) that exploits the unique property of water to modify its dielectric constant
when affected by radio-frequency (RF) radiation; the second is a smaller version
of the Sub-Critical Water Extractor (Micro-scale Ion Analyzer, or MIA). These
instruments are first tested on stock solutions of potential biomarkers to monitor any
chemical changes and demonstrate some bond breaking capabilities, then on various
planetary-analog samples for extraction. The best protocols for extraction of various
bio-markers will be determined while maximizing efficiencies and minimizing the
degradation of the targets and appropriate detection methods for each will be examined. |
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