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Mass spectrometry in the U.S. space program: past, present, and futureRecent years have witnessed significant progress on the miniaturization of mass spectrometers for a variety of field applications. This article describes the development and application of mass spectrometry (MS) instrumentation to support of goals of the U.S. space program. Its main focus is on the two most common space-related applications of MS: studying the composition of planetary atmospheres and monitoring air quality on manned space missions. Both sets of applications present special requirements in terms of analytical performance (sensitivity, selectivity, speed, etc.), logistical considerations (space, weight, and power requirements), and deployment in perhaps the harshest of all possible environments (space). The MS instruments deployed on the Pioneer Venus and Mars Viking Lander missions are reviewed for the purposes of illustrating the unique features of the sample introduction systems, mass analyzers, and vacuum systems, and for presenting their specifications which are impressive even by today's standards. The various approaches for monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cabin atmospheres are also reviewed. In the past, ground-based GC/MS instruments have been used to identify and quantify VOCs in archival samples collected during the Mercury, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and Mir missions. Some of the data from the more recent missions are provided to illustrate the composition data obtained and to underscore the need for instrumentation to perform such monitoring in situ. Lastly, the development of two emerging technologies, Direct Sampling Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (DSITMS) and GC/Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC/IMS), will be discussed to illustrate their potential utility for future missions. c 2001 American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
Document ID
20040112415
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Palmer, P. T.
(San Francisco State University California 94132-4163, United States)
Limero, T. F.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
Volume: 12
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1044-0305
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Environmental Health
STS Shuttle Project
Mir Project
Flight Experiment
Non-NASA Center
manned
long duration
short duration

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