Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.4506m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #45.06
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
The 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is designed to quantitatively assess a local region on Mars as a potential habitat for present or past life. With a substantially more comprehensive measurement capability that any other Mars rover, to date, its science goals are (1) to assess past or present biological potential of a target environment, (2) to characterize geology and geochemistry at the MSL landing site, and (3) to investigate planetary processes that influence habitability. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Suite consists of a gas chromatograph (GC), a mass spectrometer (MS), and a tunable laser spectrometer (TLS) and supporting sample manipulation and gas processing systems. SAM will implement a sensitive search for organic molecules and carry out chemical and isotopic analysis of martian volatiles while MSL contact and remote surface and subsurface survey instruments establish geological context. Mineralogy measurements are made by a companion XRD/XRF instrument in the MSL Analytical Laboratory on identically processed samples. SAM is designed to analyze either the atmospheric composition or gases extracted from solid phase samples such as rocks and fines. For example, one of the core SAM experiment sequences heats a small powdered sample of a Mars rock or soil from ambient to 1300 K in a controlled manner while continuously monitoring evolved gases. This is followed by GCMS analysis of organics which have been trapped out of the gas stream. The general chemical survey is enhanced by a specific search for molecular classes that may be relevant to life including atmospheric methane and its carbon isotope with the TLS and complex organics with the GCMS.
Cabane Michel
Coll Patrice
Conrad Pamela G.
Mahaffy Paul R.
Webster Christopher R.
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