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Detection of Nitric Oxide by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Implications for the Presence of NitratesOne of the main goals of the Mars Science Laboratory is to determine whether the planet ever had environmental conditions able to support microbial life. Nitrogen is a fundamental element for life, and is present in structural (e.g., proteins), catalytic (e.g., enzymes and ribozymes), energy transfer (e.g., ATP) and information storage (RNA and DNA) biomolecules. Planetary models suggest that molecular nitrogen was abundant in the early Martian atmosphere, but was rapidly lost to space by photochemistry, sputtering impact erosion, and oxidized and deposited to the surface as nitrate. Nitrates are a fundamental source for nitrogen to terrestrial microorganisms. Therefore, the detection of nitrates in soils and rocks is important to assess the habitability of a Martian environment. SAM is capable of detecting nitrates by their thermal decomposition into nitric oxide, NO. Here we analyze the release of NO from soils and rocks examined by the SAM instrument at Gale crater, and discuss its origin.
Document ID
20140012603
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Navarro-Gonzalez, R. (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Mexico City, Mexico)
Stern, J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Freissinet, C. (Oak Ridge Associated Universities Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Franz, H. B. (Maryland Univ. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Eigenbrode, J. L.. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McKay, C. P. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Coll, P. (Paris Univ. Creteil, France)
Sutter, B. (Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Archer, D. (Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
McAdam, A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Cabane, M. (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris, France)
Ming, D. W. (Jacobs Technologies Engineering Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Glavin, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Leshin, L. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. Troy, NY, United States)
Wong, M. (Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Atreya, S. (Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Wray, J. J. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Steele, A. (Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington, DC, United States)
Buch, A. (Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures Chatenay-Malabry, France)
Prats, B. D. (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Szopa, C. (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris, France)
Coscia, D. (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris, France)
Teinturier, S. (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris, France)
Conrad, P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Owen, T. C. (Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Mahaffy, P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Grotzinger, J. P. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 26, 2014
Publication Date
March 17, 2014
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-30382
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 17, 2014
End Date: March 21, 2014
Sponsors: Universities Space Research Association, NASA Johnson Space Center, Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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