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Calibration of the Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer of the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument SuiteThe SAM suite of instruments on the "Curiosity" Rover of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is designed to provide chemical and isotopic analysis of organic and inorganic volatiles for both atmospheric and solid samples. The mission of the MSL investigations is to advance beyond the successful search for aqueous transformation in surface environments at Mars toward a quantitative assessment of habitability and preservation through a series of chemical and geological measurements. The SAM suite was delivered in December 2010 (Figure 1) to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for integration into the Curiosity Rover. We previously outlined the range of SAM solid and gas calibrations implemented or planned and here we discuss a specific set of calibration experiments to establish the response of the SAM Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) to the four most abundant gases in the Martian atmosphere CO2, N2, Ar, and O2, A full SAM instrument description and calibration report is presently in preparation.
Document ID
20110008360
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mahaffy, P. R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Trainer, M. G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Eigenbrode, J. L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Franz, H. B. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Stern, J. C. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Harpold, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Conrad, P. G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Raaen, E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lyness, E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
March 7, 2011
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2011
End Date: March 11, 2011
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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