Posted by Before future missions can mine water, minerals, or other resources on the Moon, asteroids, or Mars, they first need reliable ways to determine what materials are present, how much exists, and where deposits are located. A NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts study led by SETI Institute research scientist Pablo Sobron is exploring whether Raman spectroscopy could provide those answers remotely. The concept, called ‘Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys’, would use a small spacecraft to study several destinations – potentially the Moon, a near-Earth asteroid, and Phobos – without landing or drilling.
Raman spectroscopy works by directing laser light at a surface and analyzing tiny wavelength changes in the reflected photons. These changes reveal molecular and mineralogical information. Raman instruments are already used at close range on planetary missions, including NASA’s Perseverance rover, but the new project aims to extend the technique dramatically.
The biggest challenge is distance. Raman scattering is extremely weak, with only about one photon in ten trillion carrying the desired signal. Sobron’s previous demonstrations reached roughly 120 meters, while the new concept targets distances of around 30–50 kilometers. During Phase I, researchers will study whether a compact spacecraft could deliver enough laser photons to a roughly meter-scale target and collect enough scattered light for meaningful compositional measurements. The team will examine photon budgets, orbital trajectories, propulsion, precision pointing, miniature lasers, and highly sensitive single-photon detectors.
The proposed mission could last five to eight years and gather data during lunar orbit and flybys of other bodies. Its immediate goal would not be to create detailed economic resource maps, but to identify promising locations for future exploration. If successful, remote Raman surveys could reduce the need for expensive sample-return or drilling missions, help avoid poor landing sites, and allow future crews to better use local resources. The project could therefore support both scientific exploration and long-term human activity beyond Earth.
For more details, read the full article by SETI Institute.
