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MSolo stands for Mass Spectrometer Observing
Lunar Operations.

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We took an off-the-shelf mass spectrometer
and worked with INFICON to ruggedize the design

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to withstand the harshness of space.

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We bolstered the glass instrument detector,
redesigned the avionics boards for better

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heat flow and increased radiation tolerance
and applied other standard spaceflight practices

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into the design.

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On the lunar surface, MSolo can measure resources
like water – crucial to deep space exploration.

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And it can measure the gasses coming off a
lander during touchdown—this is important

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so we know what is truly coming from the Moon,
and what we brought with us.

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Being able to identify the lander signature
will ensure we are only measuring what was

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already on the lunar surface.

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MSolo will be sent to the Moon as part of
the Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract—essentially,

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commercial companies are building lunar landers,
and technology like ours is hitching a ride

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down to the surface.

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Not only will MSolo help us learn more about
the Moon and ultimately change the way we

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explore our solar system, but the new rugged
design we helped create is changing things

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down here on Earth too.

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By modifying an off-the-shelf mass spectrometer,
NASA helped INFICON identify ways they could

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improve their product that would also help
universities and other researchers using their

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equipment in harsh environments here on Earth.

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In Costa Rica, investigators are flying a
commercial mass spectrometer on drones over

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volcanos—safely detecting what gases are
being emitted.

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Information from volcanic plumes provides
insight into what is happening inside the

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volcano, alerting researchers if a major eruption
is imminent.

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We are proud of MSolo’s capabilities in
space, and right here on Earth.

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And now, we’re headed to the Moon!