Ion trap mass spectrometry on a comet nucleus: the Ptolemy instrument and the Rosetta space mission

• Published in: Journal of mass spectrometry. Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Todd, John F. J., Barber, Simeon J., Wright, Ian P., Morgan, Geraint H., Morse, Andrew D., Sheridan, Simon, Leese, Mark R., Maynard, Jon, Evans, Suzanne T., Pillinger, Colin T., Drummond, Duncan L., Heys, Samantha C., Huq, S. Ejaz, Kent, Barry J., Sawyer, Eric C., Whalley, Martin S., Waltham, Nicholas R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Astronomy; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Comets; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Gas chromatographic methods; gas chromatography; Interplanetary space; ion trap mass spectrometry; ion/molecule reactions; isotope ratio mass spectrometry; Ptolemy; Rosetta comet mission; Solar system; Comets; Isotopic analysis; Ptolemy; Coupled method; Instrumentation; Mass spectroscopy; isotope ratio mass spectrometry; Space research; Rosetta comet mission; Isotope ratio; Gas chromatography; Ion trap; Cometary nuclei; Ion-molecule reactions; ion/molecule reactions; Miniaturization; Gas phase; ion trap mass spectrometry
• ISSN: 1076-5174; 1096-9888
• DOI: 10.1002/jms.1147

In May 2014, the Rosetta spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous with the comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko (‘67P’). One of the instruments on board the ‘Lander’ which will descend on to the surface of the comet is a miniaturised GC/MS system that incorporates an ion trap mass spectrometer, specially developed for isotope ratio analysis. This article describes the development and optimisation of the ion trap for this unique application, and presents a summary of the range of pre‐programmed experiments that will contribute to the characterisation of the solid and volatile cometary materials. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.