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A Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer for Quantitative Analysis of Nitrogen-Purged Compartments within the Space ShuttleTo enter orbit, the Space Shuttle burns 1.8 million liters of liquid hydrogen combined with 0.8 million liters of liquid oxygen through three rocket engines mounted in the aft. NASA monitors the nitrogen-purged aft compartment for increased levels of hydrogen or oxygen in order to detect and determine the severity of a cryogenic fuel leak. Current monitoring is accomplished with a group of mass spectrometer systems located as much as 400 feet away from the Shuttle. It can take up to 45 seconds for gas to reach the mass spectrometer, which precludes monitoring for leaks in the final moments before liftoff (the orbiter engines are started at T-00:06 seconds). To remedy the situation, NASA is developing a small rugged mass spectrometer to be used as point-sensors around the Space Shuttle. As part of this project, numerous mass analyzer technologies are being investigated. Presented here are the preliminary results for one such technology, quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (QITMS). A compact QITMS system has been developed in-house at the University of Florida for monitoring trace levels of four primary gases, hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and argon, all in a nitrogen background. Since commercially available QITMS systems are incapable of mass analysis at m/z(exp 2), the home-built system is preferred for the evaluation of QITMS technology.
Document ID
20010056316
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Ottens, Andrew K.
(Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL United States)
Griffin, Timothy P.
(DYNACS Engineering Co., Inc. Cocoa Beach, FL United States)
Helms, William R.
(NASA Kennedy Space Center Cocoa Beach, FL United States)
Yost, Richard A.
(Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL United States)
Steinrock, T.
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Meeting Information
Meeting: ASMS Conference
Location: Chicago, IL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 28, 2001
End Date: May 31, 2001
Sponsors: ASMS
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS10-98001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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