Detecting Water/Ice in Simulated Martian Regoliths using Impedance Spectroscopy

The overall goal of this project is to design a simple (low power and mass), in-situ instrument to detect the presence, abundance and state (liquid, solid, bound in minerals, and location) of water in soils. Understanding the state, distribution and cycling of water is central to answering several science and engineering questions such as the role of water in (1) the evolution of a planetary surface, (2) the mechanics of chemical weathering and erosion, (3) the potential of the habitat to harbor life and (4) the availability of sufficient extractable water resources on a planetary surface for in-situ development of propellant, life support systems and for habitat creation. We will describe the operating principles of the instrument and sensitivity limits obtained from laboratory tests on a variety of soil/water mixtures with varying water content, ionic concentration, soil type and temperatures (+25C to -65C).