Pablo Sobron Sanchez
SETI Institute

This proposal explores a new class of survey spacecraft that maps minerals from orbit using Raman spectroscopy during high-speed flybys, without landing, sample return, or prolonged dwell. If feasible, this concept would allow NASA to evaluate ice and ilmenite on the Moon, mineral content on asteroids, and volatile minerals on the moons of Mars, all with a single 300kg spacecraft. The capability addresses NASA’s long-term goals for sustainable lunar presence, asteroid resource assessment, and Mars logistics by answering a key operational question: What exactly is this material?

The central objective is to determine if Raman spectroscopy, a technique that identifies minerals by their molecular fingerprints, can operate tens of kilometers away during flybys or orbital arcs. To date, planetary Raman has only been used at meters away on rovers. Performing Raman from a standstill of 30 to 50 km would open a new regime for planetary science and space resource mapping, providing the compositional specificity that passive reflectance or neutron methods cannot.

The baseline mission concept uses a single solar electric-powered spacecraft to perform three survey legs: (1) a 50 km polar orbit of the Moon to map ice and ilmenite; (2) a 30 km flyby of a near-Earth asteroid to identify silicates, metals, and organic substances; (3) a 30 to 50 km orbit of Phobos or Deimos to detect volatile-rich phases that serve as a basis for the logistics of the Mars mission.

At each stage, a high-energy pulsed laser, a time-controlled photon counting detector, and a rad-class beam steering system isolate Raman signals from the planetary surface. No existing sensor or mission class can perform this function.

To determine feasibility, this NIAC Phase I study answers three central questions: (1) Can Raman lines from key minerals be detected with adequate signal-to-noise ratio from 50 km? (2) Can beam pointing and spotting be stabilized during fast flybys to allow integration during dwell time? (3) Can a 300 kg spacecraft with realistic propulsion, power and attitude control systems close the mission architecture at all three destinations?

Methods include first-principles photon modeling based on known Raman cross sections, spacecraft fluctuation analysis, and trajectory design using standard NASA mission planning tools. The study is divided into three technical work packages plus synthesis and reports. Sensitivity analyzes and decision gates are incorporated to determine how changes in photon return or orientation control would affect the overall viability of the mission. Alternative architectures are explored for each stage, including lower flyby altitudes and different propulsion schemes.

The study team combines deep experience in Raman instrumentation, space lidar and mission design. PI Sobron led 120 meter range field Raman systems and contributed to SuperCam and SHERLOC on Mars. Co-I Lee and NASA Goddard collaborator Yu provide direct heritage from ICESat-2 and other orbital laser systems. Co-I Casell at NASA Ames leads the initial design of the mission and brings previous experience at NIAC. The team is supported by SETI and OffWorld, a commercial partner.

If successful, the work will define the first architecture for Raman orbital mineral detection and demonstrate that high-resolution molecular mapping is possible without the need for landing. Even partial success would set new limits for remote sensing physics, provide validated models, and support future NASA decisions on Artemis siting, asteroid mining, and ISRU planning on Mars. The architecture allows for a cost-effective Discovery-class template that could eventually scale to a fleet of inner-Solar System explorers, bringing Landsat-style mineral intelligence to planetary exploration.

National Teams 2026