Raman-LIBS, a Journey from Mars to Earth Via the Moon

In 2005 ESA initiated a study for a spectrometer combining Raman and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)as a potential instrument for the Pasteur payload of the ESA ExoMars rover. It is a fundamental, next-generation instrument for organic, mineralogical and elemental characterization of soil, rock samples and organic molecules. The objective was to combine Raman spectroscopy and LIBS (R-L)into a single instrument sharing many hardware commonalities. The resulting `elegant bread board' (EBB) was successfully tested in `Mars' like condition. Ultimately a reduced Raman only instrument was selected. In a later ESA study, the R-L system was adapted for use in a lunar rover and, again, the EBB was used under high vacuum conditions, and demonstrated that in situ laser analysis of regolith like materials was possible under high vacuum conditions. The developed knowledge and technology has continued to be used here on Earth with various spin-offs into industrial and medical applications. This paper will describe the origin of the R-L technology and its path through the different Space roles on into the spin-off systems which are now transferring into Earth based systems and will look toward the potential role of R-L in future space missions to asteroids and comets.