SBIR-STTR Award

This project is to study the feasibility of developing an in-situ, compact, low-power, non-destructive X-ray imaging instrument to investigate the ice/rock critical properties, such as density, porosity, crack, and chemical non–uniformity, liquid distribution and flowing path, etc.. This proposed system will be built with compact low-power X-ray components and an innovative system configuration. This imaging system would be expected to be less than 10 pounds with a total size as a shoe box. The sample could be either ice or rock. The compact X-ray imaging system has a significant potential to be useful for NASA’s New Frontiers and Discovery missions cross most planetary bodies. The significance of the proposed technical innovation is from three aspects To leverages the rapid progress in X-ray source and X-ray imaging sensor for building a compact and efficient system. To use a hybrid optic system to get multiple monochromatic and polychromatic beams for enhancing the system efficiency and capability in data collection. To combine the beam system with an innovative scan mechanism for yielding the 3D multi-spectral images with rich information about the samples. Furthermore, this proposed technology could be combined with other instruments, such as the Mars CheMin system, to form a synergy of the dual/triple modality. The process could be: first to perform the non-destructive multi-spectral 3D CT imaging with the samples, and then do the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) measurements after the samples to be grounded to powder. The synergy will yield a great amount of information, such as density, porosity, crack, phase composition, etc, as well as the chemical compounds, and trace elements etc. of the samples. To gain such information covering a broad range of the fields would significantly help us to expand our knowledge about the solar system and the universe. Potential NASA Applications This in-situ X-ray imaging system would investigate the planetary ice/rock critical internal structure properties, such as density, porosity, crack, and chemical non–uniformity, liquid distribution and flowing path, etc.. It would be a great addition to the current NASA in-situ instruments, such as Mars CheMin system, by first-time providing those critical internal structure information closely related to the formation history of these samples for NASA’s New Frontiers and Discovery missions. Potential Non-NASA Applications This proposed technology also has a great potential for geological survey, petroleum, and subsurface thermal resource exploration because it can in-situ provide critical internal structure information about the rock/ice samples. For example, it can be utilized in pole areas to investigate the ice samples right on site to avoid the challenges to transfer and reserve the fragile ice samples. This in-situ measurement can improve the efficiency of the survey, exploration, and fundamental research.

To answer the questions such as how have the myriad chemical and physical processes that shaped the solar system operated, interacted, and evolved over time? from “Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022” by National Research Council, we propose to develop a compact, low-power, in-situ X-ray imaging and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) instrument called Tomo-XRF probe to investigate the ice/rock internal element distribution and structure critical properties, such as density, porosity, crack, liquid distribution and flowing path, etc. In this Phase II project, a prototype Tomo-XRF probe will be built with cutting edge X-ray components, innovative system configuration, and a novel method for data processing. This whole prototype system would be expected to be less than 10 pounds with a total size as a shoe box. The sample could be either ice or rock. The Tomo-XRF probe has a significant potential for NASA’s New Frontiers and Discovery missions cross most planetary bodies to provide high quality internal structure and element distribution information. To in-situ investigate the rock/ice sample prior to sample return could significantly improve the NASA spacecraft mission efficiency and expand our knowledge of the origin, formation, structure, etc. of the substances of the planetary bodies. This proposed Tomo-XRF probe also has a great potential for geological survey, petroleum, subsurface thermal resource, and mining exploration. It can also be used at the production field of advanced manufacturing to provide critical 3D structure and element distribution information of the parts for quality assurance. The in-situ results can be used as feedback to optimize/adjust the production process for significantly improving the production throughput and quality control. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) It would be useful for the science research objectives defined in the “Mars Science Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities: 2018 Version” MEPAG: 1. Objective B1.3: Establish general geological context (e.g., rock-hosted aquifer or sub-ice reservoir; host rock type). 2. Objective B1.1: Determine the types, nature, abundance, and interaction of volatiles in the mantle and crust. 3. Objective A4.3: Determine the present state, 3-dimensional distribution, and cycling of water on Mars, including the cryosphere and possible deep aquifers. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) There is an excellent potential for the Tomo-XRF probe for the geology survey, petroleum and mining industries, which are close to the geophysics and geochemistry application in the NASA mission. This Tomo-XRF probe has an even big potential for advanced manufacturing quality control of critical components because it can be easily extended to accommodate a variety of large samples.