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The highly compact Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (LITMS) combines pyrolysis gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) and Mars-ambient laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) through a single, miniaturized yet highly-capable linear ion trap mass analyzer. The LITMS instrument is based substantially on the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer - Mass Spectrometer (MOMA-MS) for the 2020 ExoMars mission but features further analytical enhancements. In addition to the core MOMA capabilities, LITMS enhances the instrument performance by including negative ion detection, a dual frequency RF power supply to increase mass range, precision subsampling of drill cores at fine (≤ 1 mm) spatial scales, and pyrolysis of powdered sample for evolved gas analysis (EGA) of organic content and mineral assemblages. LITMS enables in situ characterization of inorganics and organics in individual rock core layers and features. This level of integrated analytical capability is critical to achieve advanced astrobiology objectives on Mars and other planets.

This paper describes the development and testing of the PlanetVac Xodiac sampler by Honeybee Robotics. This iteration of PlanetVac builds on Honeybee's heritage of pneumatic sampling systems and modifies it to function on an Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) test bed vehicle. PlanetVac Xodiac was flown on Masten Space Systems Xodiac vehicle in the Mojave Desert of California. The sampler was designed to withstand the high temperatures emitted by the propulsion system plume, as well as the vibration and impact stresses of takeoff and landing. PlanetVac Xodiac not only survived all three end-to-end field tests, it also collected over three times the expected 100g sample in each trial.

This paper describes development and testing of low-mass, low-power drills for the Axel rover. Axel is a two-wheeled tethered rover designed for the robotic exploration of steep cliff walls, crater walls and deep holes on earth and other planetary bodies. The Axel rover has a capability to deploy scientific instruments and/or samplers in the areas of interest to scientists currently inaccessible by conventional robotic systems. To enable sample recovery, we developed two drills: NanoDrill for acquisition of 25 mm long and 7 mm diameter cores and PowderDrill for acquisition of either in situ regolith/soil or drilled cuttings from depths of up to 15 mm. Both drills have been successfully tested in laboratory in limestone and sandstone rocks and on-board the Axel rover in the Mars Yard at NASA JPL. The drills managed to acquire limestone and sandstone cores and powder, with an average power of less than 5 Watts. The penetration rate of the NanoDrill was ∼ 2 mm/min and of the PowderDrill it was ∼9 mm/min. After sample acquisition, both drills successfully ejected of the acquired samples (cores and powder).

This paper presents a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Sample Acquisition and Caching (SAC) study developed for the three rover platforms: MER, MER+, and MSL. The study took into account 26 SAC requirements provided by the NASA Mars Exploration Program Office.

NASA has grand goals including exploring extraterrestrial bodies such as near-earth objects (NEOs) in order to better understand our origins as well as protect Earth from space-based threats.1 Robotic precursor missions and eventually manned exploration will require advanced dust-tolerant mechanisms if long-life and low-risk missions are to be attained.

This paper describes a novel material for the direct removal of water and ions from the body of patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The work is part of a larger project that is envisioned to be a new type of dialysis process that could replace or enhance existing dialysis methods. The main idea is to implant a unit either and/or outside the body of the patients with renal failure so that they do not have to go through the painstaking and exhausting hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis processes existing today. The proposed work in its final embodiment will eliminate such processes and allow the patients to lead a more normal life than is possible with current state-of-the-art processes and equipment. This paper provides preliminary results to show that a sol gel based material has been formulated that can absorb 30% water, 30% sodium ions and almost 50% potassium ions in a laboratory setting from a mixture that simulates the amounts produced by the human body with ESRD.