Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in space applications: Review and prospects

Abstract

This review describes the principles and summarizes the challenges of analytical methods based on optical emission spectroscopy (OES) in space applications, with a particular focus on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Over the past decade, LIBS has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for space exploration and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) of celestial bodies. Its implementation has been suggested for various segments of the Space Resources Value Chain, including prospecting, mining, and beneficiation. Current missions to Mars, including the ChemCam instrument on the Curiosity rover, the SuperCam on the Perseverance rover, and the MarSCoDe on the Zhurong rover, are considered flagship applications of LIBS. Despite neither the Pragyan rover nor the Vikram lander waking from the lunar night, the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission marks another milestone in the development of LIBS instruments, with further missions, including commercial ones, anticipated.

This paper reviews the deployment of LIBS payloads on Mars rovers, upcoming missions prospecting the Moon and asteroids, and LIBS analysis of meteorites. Additionally, it highlights the importance of data processing specific to space applications, emphasizing recent trends in transfer learning. Furthermore, LIBS combined with other spectroscopic techniques (e.g., Raman Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) represents an intriguing platform with comprehensive analytical capabilities. The review concludes by emphasizing the significance of LIBS-based contributions in advancing our understanding of celestial bodies and paving the way for future space exploration endeavors.