LILA: A Next-Generation Hybrid Analyzer for Planetary Missions
This project investigates the capabilities and scientific potential of the newly developed LILA (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy & Laser Ablation Mass Spectrometry) instrument, currently in prototype form. Designed as a compact, integrated system for planetary exploration, LILA merges LIBS and LAMS techniques to enable comprehensive elemental, isotopic, and molecular analysis of planetary materials in vacuum and low-pressure environments such as those on the Moon and Mars.
Utilizing a shared laser source, LILA combines Optical Emission Spectroscopy with a miniaturized Orbitrap mass analyzer for high-resolution detection. The central hypothesis is that the synergistic use of these methods will allow for unprecedented in situ characterization of geological and organic compounds, aiding in the understanding of planetary surface processes and supporting resource prospecting for future missions. This proposal aims to establish LILA as a next-generation analytical tool for deployment on rovers and landers in planetary science.
Participants / Consortium (Germany and Czech Republic)
Professor Dr. Bernd Abel
Universität Leipzig, Germany
ERA Chair and Head of the Department of Space Chemistry and Technology
J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry
Czech Academy of Sciences
Professorin Dr.-Ing. Sabine Klinkner
Universität Stuttgart
Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme (IRS)
Stuttgart, Germany
Professor Jozef Kaiser, Ph.D.
CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology
Materials Characterization and Advanced Coatings Research Group
Brno, Czech Republic
Petr Kubelík, Ph.D.; Ján Žabka; Martin Ferus, Ph.D.
J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry
Czech Academy of Sciences
Department of Spectroscopy
Prague, Czech Republic
