Spectroscopy in Integrated In-Situ Microfluidic Devices for Planetary Exploration

Integration of spectroscopic measurement capability with lab-on-a-chip microfluidic device technology for planetary exploration will be discussed. The coupling of Raman spectroscopy as the detection modality at the exit of a microfabricated capillary electrophoresis instrument will be evaluated, along with recent laboratory progress on a variety of water-based chemical test systems involving sulfates and nitrates. The implications of these measurements, performed on aqueous solutions extracted from the Martian regolith as part of an in-situ instrument payload, will be discussed in the overall context of robotic exploration of Mars.