Print button

Abstract DGP2026-7


Mars analogue sample analysis using MOMA Flight Analogue Systems: Evaluating LD-MS and Py-GC-MS Configurations for the Search for Biosignatures

Fatma Yesil-Sahan, Guillaume Leseigneur, Christian Schroeder, Fred Goesmann
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany


The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) onboard the Rosalind Franklin Rover of the ExoMars mission is designed to detect and characterize biomarkers of past or present life in Martian soil using a combination of Laser Desorption-Mass Spectrometry (LD-MS) and flash Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). Here, we present results from Mars analogue samples selected by the ExoMars science team obtained with different MOMA flight-like hardware configurations. LD-MS measurements were done with an Atmospheric Pressure Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption (APMALDI) source equipped with a 266 nm laser attached to a commercial mass spectrometer. Py- GC-MS measurements were performed by two set-ups called the Flight Analogue System (FAS). The FAS-GC-MS features a MOMA oven and a trap connected to a commercial GC-MS, replicating the full MOMA nominal analytical chain. The SimpleFAS-GC-MS is a simplified variant that omits the trap, enabling direct pyrolysis injection. All systems are run with optimized MOMA compatible parameters, under mission-relevant constraints, including the energy consumption. These experiments enable a direct comparison of different operational modes relevant to MOMA’s in situ analysis. While LD-MS measurements reveal nonvolatile and refractory organics, Py-GC-MS measures volatile and semi-volatile organics. By bypassing the trap in the FAS GC-MS setup, we demonstrate for the first time the feasibility and analytical impact of direct pyrolysis injection into the GC-MS system. Comparative analysis between the two configurations reveals similar chromatographic profiles and significant differences in peak resolution and detection limits. These results provide crucial insights into the performance optimization of MOMA-like systems and inform future operational strategies for in situ organic detection on Mars. This work presents a critical step toward validating the analytical capabilities of MOMA under realistic mission-relevant conditions and strengthens our readiness to detect potential biosignatures on Mars.