Unlocking the Secrets of Mars: SAM’s Suite of Analytical Instruments Reveal Gaseous Compositions in Rock Samples

SAM, which stands for Sample Analysis at Mars, is a suite of three analytical instruments designed to measure the composition of gases released from drilled samples as they are baked in SAM’s ovens. These instruments include a gas chromatograph, a quadrupole mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer, each specializing in detecting specific types of compounds such as water, methane, carbon, and organic molecules.

The aim of this experiment is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the materials present in the rock sample by conducting both experiments. By introducing a new sample into the SAM oven and measuring the gas compositions using the gas chromatograph and quadrupole mass spectrometer, we hope to further analyze and interpret the data gathered. This approach will provide valuable insights into the composition of gases released during the baking process.

SAM’s three analytical instruments work in tandem to provide a detailed analysis of the samples, allowing for a deeper exploration of the Martian environment. The tunable laser spectrometer and quadrupole mass spectrometer were used in the previous experiment to analyze the gas compositions of the Mammoth Lakes 2 sample. For this plan, we will introduce a new sample into the SAM oven and measure the gas compositions using the gas chromatograph and quadrupole mass spectrometer. By conducting both experiments, we hope to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the materials present in