NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Regolith Evolved Gas AnalyzerThe Regolith Evolved Gas Analyzer (REGA) is a high-temperature furnace and mass spectrometer instrument for determining the mineralogical composition and reactivity of soil samples. REGA provides key mineralogical and reactivity data that is needed to understand the soil chemistry of an asteroid, which then aids in determining in-situ which materials should be selected for return to earth. REGA is capable of conducting a number of direct soil measurements that are unique to this instrument. These experimental measurements include: (1) Mass spectrum analysis of evolved gases from soil samples as they are heated from ambient temperature to 900 C; and (2) Identification of liberated chemicals, e.g., water, oxygen, sulfur, chlorine, and fluorine. REGA would be placed on the surface of a near earth asteroid. It is an autonomous instrument that is controlled from earth but does the analysis of regolith materials automatically. The REGA instrument consists of four primary components: (1) a flight-proven mass spectrometer, (2) a high-temperature furnace, (3) a soil handling system, and (4) a microcontroller. An external arm containing a scoop or drill gathers regolith samples. A sample is placed in the inlet orifice where the finest-grained particles are sifted into a metering volume and subsequently moved into a crucible. A movable arm then places the crucible in the furnace. The furnace is closed, thereby sealing the inner volume to collect the evolved gases for analysis. Owing to the very low g forces on an asteroid compared to Mars or the moon, the sample must be moved from inlet to crucible by mechanical means rather than by gravity. As the soil sample is heated through a programmed pattern, the gases evolved at each temperature are passed through a transfer tube to the mass spectrometer for analysis and identification. Return data from the instrument will lead to new insights and discoveries including: (1) Identification of the molecular masses of all of the gases liberated from heated soil samples; (2) Identification of the asteroid soil mineralogy to aid in the selection process for returned samples; (3) Existence of oxygen in the asteroid soil and the potential for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU); and (4) Existence of water and other volatiles in the asteroid soil. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
Document ID
20010019449
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hoffman, John H.
(Texas Univ. at Dallas Richardson, TX United States)
Hedgecock, Jud
(Oceaneering Space Systems Houston, TX United States)
Nienaber, Terry
(Oceaneering Space Systems Houston, TX United States)
Cooper, Bonnie
(Oceaneering Space Systems Houston, TX United States)
Allen, Carlton
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Ming, Doug
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Near-Earth Asteroid Sample Return Workshop
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available