Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer

MOMA uses ultraviolet laser pulses to release and ionize organic compounds captured within crushed Martian surface and near-surface materials. Because each laser pulse lasts less than two billionths of a second, this process effectively ionizes more heat-resistant materials than those accessed by traditional oven-heating (pyrolysis) methods. Pulsed laser processing preserves weak molecular bonds, and enables the identification of organic compounds even in the presence of highly reactive perchlorates commonly found in Martian surface materials.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio
Scientists
William Brinckerhoff (NASA/GSFC)
Ricardo Arevalo (NASA/GSFC)
Veronica Pinnick (NASA/GSFC)
Animator
Krystofer Kim (eMITS)
Producer
Dan Gallagher (eMITS)