Description of Units and Sub-Systems

The CLPS-LIMS instrument comprises two units: the Spectrometer Unit (SMU), which consists of the instrument’s core component, the mass analyzer, and the Electronics Unit (ELU), which operates the SMU.

The Spectrometer Unit (SMU)

The rough lunar regolith material collected by the sample delivery system (provided by the CLPS contractor) is delivered to and processed by the Sample Handling System Mechanism (SHSM powered by the Sample Handling System Electronics (SHSE)) of the CLPS-LIMS system, which conists of a funnel system with sieves that places the regolith material on the transport carousel. The SHSM is integrated into the CLPS-LIMS system to present a prepared sample surface in front of the aperture of the Mass Analyser (MA). A pulsed laser beam generated by the Laser Head Box (LHB), powered by the Laser Electronics (LE), is focused by the Opto-Mechanical System (OMS) towards the sample surface to induce material ablation and ionization. Positively charged species are extracted and separated by the ion optical system of the Mass Analyser (MA), powered by Low Voltage Power Supplies and High Voltage Power Supplies (LVHVPS). The analogue signal generated by the MA detector is digitized and processed by the Read-Out Electronic (ROE), and stored onto the Data Processing Unit (DPU). The operation of the instrument is ensured by the Application Software (APS). The main DC voltage provided by the spacecraft is converted and provided to all electronics sub-systems by the DC-DC converter (DCDC). The thermal control of the entire instrument is maintained by the Sample Handling and Thermal Control (SHTC) Electronics.

The Electronics Unit (ELU)