1,3,4,1,- 1J.Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Space Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czechia (michaela.maleckova@jh-inst.cas.cz)
- 2ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, CAS, Na Slovance 2, Prague 182 21, Czechia
- 3Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace (LPC2E), UMR7328 CNRS/Université d’Orléans, 3A, Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans, France
- 4Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, FU Berlin, Malteserstraße 74‐100, D‐12249 Berlin, Germany
- 5Institute of Chemical Technology and Wilhelm Ostwald-Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Mass spectrometry significantly contributes to space exploration by uniquely determining the elemental composition of micrometeorites, space dust, or particles from atmospheres and surfaces of distant objects.
HANKA becomes ideal payload candidate for a spectrum of future space missions, ranging from low-budget to ambitious projects. It is a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) specifically designed for in-situ analyses in resource limited environments like space. The core of the instrument is an electrostatic ion trap mass analyzer, OrbitrapTM, which has broad applications in biological or environmental research. The first prototype of Orbitrap-based space analyzer was developed in LPC2E Orléans, known as CosmOrbitrap, and the mission of HANKA is to bring this new technology into the space.
A laboratory prototype of HANKA was constructed and tested (Fig.1A). Based on the first data, HRMS requirements were achieved while maintaining a simple instrument design. Mass spectrum of chondrite meteorite (Fig.1B) shows high resolution (50 000 m/ΔmFWHM) at m/z 10-60, and with mass accuracy <20 ppm. In particular, a broad mass range (2-2000 amu) can be recorded within a short acquisition time (10-1000 milliseconds), providing comprehensive insight into the elemental and isotopic composition of solid particles.
Beyond its functional properties and compact dimensions, further miniaturization is planned, targeting to low-weight (less than 6 kg), and minimal power consumption (5-10 W, mode-dependent). The 4U CubeSat version of HANKA, designed for future in-situ analyses in space, consists of velocity/charge detector, hypervelocity impact ionization source, ion optics, and OrbitrapTM analyser (Fig.1C)
In summary, HANKA offers a unique combination of high-resolution mass spectrometry, compact design, and low resource demands. It can provide comprehensive and real-time analysis of complex space dust and micrometeorite particles characterization.
Fig.1: HANKA – laboratory prototype (A), mass spectrum of chondrite meteorite (B), and CubeSat space version (C)
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (grant No. 21-11931J)
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How to cite: Malečková, M., Žabka, J., Zimak, Y., Polášek, M., Cherville, B., Jašík, J., Spesyvyi, A., Lacko, M., Kashkoul, M., Sanderink, A., Nezvedová, M., Sixtová, N., Abel, B., Charvát, A., and Lebreton, J.-P.: CubeSat Space Dust Analyser "HANKA", EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 Sep 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-120, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-120, 2025.
