Interfacial Water as a Mars ISRU Objective: Detection of microscopic water using fiber optic sensors

Development is underway to integrate fiber optic sensors into environmental simulations of non-terrestrial environments. These sensors will allow measurement of small volumes (~µm 3 ) of water and will enable characterization of the thermal properties of soils. The techniques used in this study are also beneficial in determining water/ice behavior in arid environments such as those experienced on the planet Mars. The implications of this work could impact future space missions in regard to the availability of critical resources (i.e., water) for human missions and the search for non-terrestrial life.

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