Matthias Blaukovitsch

University of Bern, International Space Science Institute

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About

Matthias Blaukovitsch is a pioneering space instrumentation engineer whose work is shaping the next generation of in-situ planetary exploration. His primary research focuses on developing advanced laser-based mass spectrometry (LIMS) and automated sample handling systems for extraterrestrial environments, with a specific emphasis on lunar surface operations. Blaukovitsch’s major contribution lies in the design and integration of a complete analytical payload for robotic missions, enabling real-time chemical and mineralogical analysis of lunar regolith without the need for sample return. His 2023 paper on in-situ lunar regolith analysis (10 citations) details the LIMS instrument currently being developed for deployment under NASA’s Artemis CLPS program, marking a critical step toward autonomous geochemical surveying on the Moon. In his 2025 follow-up (2 citations), he provides the first comprehensive design and verification strategy for a sample handling system (SHS) that prepares regolith for laser ablation ionization mass spectrometry—a key engineering challenge for reliable surface operations. Blaukovitsch’s work bridges the gap between laboratory precision and the harsh realities of the lunar environment, directly supporting future human and robotic missions to characterize lunar resources and geology.