XRay Diffraction System (Goddard Space Flight Center)

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED RFQ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The X-ray Lab in the Planetary Environments Laboratory (code 699) at Goddard Space Flight Center is purchasing a micro-X-ray diffractometer (XRD) in order to take the facilities at NASA GSFC into the next generation of high-resolution mineralogical analysis of geological samples, including samples that contain clay minerals and poorly-ordered materials.

In doing so, the X-ray lab will be suited with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and software and positioned well to play a significant role in future planetary sample return missions, particularly Mars Sample Return (MSR).

The goals for this instrument are to provide (i) the highest resolution currently available for mineralogical analysis (ii) the ability to analyze and quantify the mineralogy of a small mass of precious powder samples (e.g., <30 mg), and (iii) the unique capability of mapping rock samples for mineral spatial variability with a small spot size (i.e., ?60 microns).