A Westborough firm developing analytical and material analysis systems could one day see its equipment used to study minerals on Mars after it was selected by two research projects, including a NASA-sponsored study.
The device is Malvern Panalytical’s ASD TerraSpec Halo mineral identifier, which was used by NASA-backed research project GeoHuristic Operational Strategies Test, (GHOST), which included scientists from the University of Colorado.
The team selected Malvern Panalytical’s mineral identifier to maximize the speed, efficiency and scientific return of Mars rover sample collection.
During testing, the device allowed for rapid data acquisition of minerals at a field site near Salt Lake City, Utah.
“It is exciting to see the TerraSpec Halo contributing towards the advancement of planetary field geology research,” said Katherine Macchiarola, the company’s U.S. marketing director. “Having a full-range spectrometer in the palms of their hands producing immediate on-instrument results allowed these researchers to quickly assess the analog terrain of interest.”
Another project, PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere), allowed student researchers to use the tool to gather spectral measurements at the San Francisco Volcanic Field in northern Arizona to identify alteration minerals.
That method could help search for water upon a return to the Moon or a trip to Mars.
