Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander

Details Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander

Apr 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003eaeja.....7330m&link_type=abstract

EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #7330

Other

Scientific paper

A key objective for several of the next set of lander missions to Mars will be a search for the location and nature of organic molecules and other disequilibrium compounds that may reveal the nature of present or ancient biotic or prebiotic processes on Mars. Ongoing development and definition of instrumentation that can carry out this analysis will be described. For example, an instrument suite presently under development to be proposed for inclusion on the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory consists of an advanced gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) together with a laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LD-tof-MS). This measurement suite is designated SAM (for Sample Analysis at Mars). SAM is designed to carry out analysis of both atmospheric gases and volatiles released from solid phase soils, rock samples, and ices. Volatile organic molecules and their pyrolysis products are analyzed by the GCMS and refractory organics by both the pyrolysis and the LD-tof-MS. The LD-tof-MS also provides abundances for a range of major and trace elements in collected samples. Additional measurement objectives include higher precision measurements than have been obtained to date of abundances and isotope ratios of the noble gases, nitrogen, and a range of light elements. SAM can also contribute to the identification of various minerals through evolved gas analysis of stable thermal decomposition products such as H2O, CO2, and oxides of nitrogen and sulfur.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Analysis of organic molecules and isotopes from a Mars lander will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-843726