A New Molecular Beam Facility for In-Situ Neutral Mass Spectrometer Calibration

The MOlecular Beam for Instrument Utilization and Simulation (MOBIUS) is a newly developed calibration facility at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) designed to test and calibrate in-situ neutral mass spectrometers. MOBIUS was built to calibrate Strofio, the neutral mass spectrometer on the BepiColombo mission, by replicating the conditions it will encounter while orbiting Mercury at 3 km/s. To achieve the necessary calibration conditions, MOBIUS generates a high-speed neutral beam using a silicon carbide nozzle capable of withstanding extreme temperatures (~2000°C) and pressures (~30 bar). While tailored for Strofio, the facility is versatile and can accommodate the calibration of other neutral mass spectrometers requiring beam speeds of up to 8 km/s. This presentation will introduce MOBIUS, detailing its design, capabilities, and potential applications for future space instrument testing.