# CubeSat Space Dust Analyser "HANKA"

Michaela Malečková, Ján Žabka, Yllia Zimak, Miroslav Polášek, Barnabé Cherville, Juraj Jašík, Anatolii Spesyvyi, Michal Lacko, Marwa Kashkoul, Arnaud Sanderink, et al.

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Michaela Malečková, Ján Žabka, Yllia Zimak, Miroslav Polášek, Barnabé Cherville, et al. CubeSat Space Dust Analyser "HANKA". EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Sep 2025, Helsinki, Finland. 2025, 10.5194/epsc-dps2025-120. insu-05280214

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https://insu.hal.science/insu-05280214v1

Submitted on 24 Sep 2025

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CubeSat Space Dust Analyser "HANKA"

**Michaela Malečková**<fnref n="1" />, Ján Žabka<fnref n="1" />, Yllia Zimak<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Miroslav Polášek<fnref n="1" />, Barnabé Cherville<fnref n="1" />, Juraj Jašík<fnref n="1" />, Anatolii Spesyvyi<fnref n="1" />, Michal Lacko<fnref n="1" />, Marwa Kashkoul<fnref n="1" />, Arnaud Sanderink<fnref n="3" />,<fnref n="4" />, Markéta Nezvedová<fnref n="1" />, Nikola Sixtová<fnref n="1" />, Bernd Abel<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="5" />, Aleš Charvát<fnref n="5" />, and Jean-Pierre Lebreton<fnref n="3" />

**Mass spectrometry** significantly contributes to space exploration by uniquely determining the **elemental composition** of micrometeorites, space dust, or particles from atmospheres and surfaces of distant objects.

HANKA becomes ideal payload candidate for a spectrum of future space missions, ranging from low-budget to ambitious projects. It is a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) specifically designed for in-situ analyses in resource limited environments like space. The core of the instrument is an electrostatic ion trap mass analyzer, Orbitrap™, which has broad applications in biological or environmental research. The first prototype of Orbitrap-based space analyzer was developed in LPC2E Orléans, known as CosmOrbitrap, and the mission of HANKA is to bring this new technology into the space.

A laboratory prototype of HANKA was constructed and tested (Fig.1A). Based on the first data, **HRMS requirements** were achieved while maintaining a **simple instrument design**. Mass spectrum of chondrite meteorite (Fig.1B) shows **high resolution** (50 000 m/Δm<sub>FWHM</sub>) at m/z 10-60, and with **mass accuracy** <20 ppm. In particular, a broad **mass range** (2-2000 amu) can be recorded within a **short acquisition time** (10-1000 milliseconds), providing comprehensive insight into the elemental and isotopic composition of solid particles.

Beyond its functional properties and **compact dimensions**, further **miniaturization** is planned, targeting to low-weight (less than **6 kg**), and minimal power consumption (5-10 W, mode-dependent). The **4U CubeSat** version of HANKA, designed for future *in-situ* analyses in space, consists of velocity/charge detector, **hypervelocity impact ionization source**, ion optics, and Orbitrap™ analyser (Fig.1C)

In summary, HANKA offers a unique combination of high-resolution mass spectrometry, compact design, and low resource demands. It can provide comprehensive and real-time analysis of complex space dust and micrometeorite particles characterization.

**Fig.1:** HANKA – laboratory prototype (A), mass spectrum of chondrite meteorite (B), and CubeSat space version (C)

<footnote n="1">¹J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Space Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czechia (michaela.maleckova@jhininst.cas.cz)</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, CAS, Na Slovance 2, Prague 182 21, Czechia</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace (LPC2E), UMR7328 CNRS/Université d'Orléans, 3A, Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans, France</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, FU Berlin, Malteserstraße 74 100, D 12249 Berlin, Germany</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵Institute of Chemical Technology and Wilhelm Ostwald-Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering, 04318 Leipzig, Germany</footnote>
**Acknowledgements:** This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (grant No. 21-11931J)

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