MICA Objective and Expected Significance MICA Objectives: Develop a miniature flight prototype MICA, based on combined XRF / XRD and optical imaging of unprepared solids or powders featuring mineralogy, element identification, and grain/crystal size evaluation. Science Targets: Materials of planetological and astrobiolgical interest on Mars or other planetary bodies. Building space qualifiable prototype (TRL 6), ready for response to Mars 2009 MSL AO. Testing of the Prototype in rover field tests The objective of the MICA project is to demonstrate with laboratory breadboard hardware, the capability of visual sample imaging combined with x-ray diffraction and fluorescence implemented with CCD x-ray detector for Mars or other planetary bodies as a miniature reconnaissance tool. The major thrust of planetary exploration has shifted from the earlier approach of only remote sensing and in-situ measurements to addition of sample return. This would allow detailed meas-urements to be made with laboratory instrumentation much more sophisticated than is possible with flight instruments. On the other hand, great strides are being made in miniaturization, bring-ing an increase in the potential of in-situ measurements of providing important data. The Mineral Identification and Composition Analyzer (MICA) is proposed as a method for augmenting the quality of in-situ data as well as providing for selecting specimens for sample return. It is an autonomous planetary in-situ tool offering analysis requiring no sample preparation yet providing an excellent basis for selecting samples for return. MICA is a highly miniaturized tool for X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses on unprepared samples accompanied by visual imaging of the x-ray analyzed samples. XRD patterns are reliable signatures of the mineral types subjected to x-ray bombard-ment, and XRF data characterize elemental abundance. MICA differs considerably from prior in-situ XRD instrument concepts by combining: 1) capability to acquire mineralogically meaningful data without needing sample preparation, 2) unique deep depletion charge coupled device (CCD) detection for energy dispersive and position sensitive x-ray data that allows simultaneous XRD and XRF with the same detector. The MIT/PSU/Lockheed Martin Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) on the Chandra x-ray telescope is demonstrating the unique capabilities of this type CCD for simultaneous position detection and energy dispersive x-ray measurements. Copyright © 2005 N-Science, Inc. Phone: 303-718-9502 - Fax: 303-432-8555 - Email: info@nscicorp.com