Czech scientists develop advanced instruments for NASA and ESA space missions

Scientists from the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry in the Czech Republic are developing advanced instrumentation for international space missions aimed at exploring icy moons and exoplanets.

For NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, researchers developed the SELINA instrument. This compact device is designed to analyze nanoparticles and heavy molecules, providing a breakthrough in studying the potentially habitable environment of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Additionally, Czech experts are contributing to the ESA EnVision mission, which aims to provide a comprehensive view of Venus, from its core to its atmosphere.

Looking toward the 2040s, researchers are also working on technology for the ESA L4 mission to Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. The goal is to create an instrument capable of identifying specific organic compounds in Enceladus’s plumes to determine if they result from chemical processes or biological precursors. Beyond space exploration, these high-resolution mass spectrometry technologies have potential applications in industrial monitoring and emergency services.