During the first 120 sols of Curiosity s landed mission on Mars (8/6/2012 to 12/7/2012) SAM sampled the atmosphere 9 times and an eolian bedform named Rocknest 4 times. The atmospheric experiments utilized SAM s quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and tunable laser spectrometer (TLS) while the solid sample experiments also utilized the gas chromatograph (GC). Although a number of core experiments were pre-programmed and stored in EEProm, a high level SAM scripting language enabled the team to optimize experiments based on prior runs

Archer, P. D.

Atreya, S. K.

Benna, M.

Brinckerhoff, W. B.

Brunner, A. E.

Buch, A.

Cabane, M.

Coll, P.

Conrad, P. G.

Coscia, D.

Dobson, N.

Dworkin, J. P.

Eigenbrode, J. L.

Farley, K. A.

Flesch, G.

Franz, H. B.

Freissinet, C.

Glavin, D. P.

Gorevan, S.

Grotzinger, J. P.

Harpold, D. N.

Hengemihle, J.

Jaeger, F.

Mahaffy, P. R.

Webster, C. R.

NASA Technical Reports Server

CURIOSITY’S SAMPLE ANALYSIS AT MARS (SAM) INVESTIGATION: OVERVIEW OF RESULTS 
FROM THE FIRST 120 SOLS ON MARS.  P.R. Mahaffy1, M. Cabane2, C.R.Webster3, P.D. Archer4, S.K. 
Atreya5, M. Benna1, W.B. Brinckerhoff1, A.E. Brunner1, A. Buch6, P. Coll7, P.G. Conrad1, D. Coscia2, N. Dobson1, 
J.P. Dworkin1, J.L. Eigenbrode1, K.A. Farley8, G. Flesch3, H.B. Franz1, C. Freissinet1, D.P. Glavin1, S. Gorevan9, 
J.P. Grotzinger8, D.N. Harpold1, J. Hengemihle1, F. Jaeger1, C.S. Johnson1, M.S. Johnson1, J.H. Jones4, M.C. Lefa-
vor1, L.A. Leshin9, E.I. Lyness1, C.A. Malespin1, H.L. Manning10, D.K. Martin1, A.C. McAdam1, C.P. McKay11, K. 
Miller12, D.W. Ming4 R.V. Morris4, R. Navarro-González13, P.B. Niles4, T.J. Nolan1, T.C. Owen14, A.A. Pavolov1, 
B.D. Prats1, R.O. Pepin15, E. Raaen1, F. Raulin7, A. Steele16, J.C. Stern1, S.W. Squyres17, B. Sutter4, R. E. Sum-
mons12, D.Y. Sumner18, C. Szopa2, F.W. Tan1, S. Teinturier2, M.G. Trainer1, M.H. Wong5, J.J.. Wray19, and the 
MSL Science Team 
 
1NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, paul.r.mahaffy@nasa.gov, 2LATMOS, U. Pierre et 
Marie Curie, Univ. Versailles Saint-Quentin & CNRS, 75005 Paris, France, 3Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California 
Inst. of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 4NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston TX, 5U. Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 
6Ecole Centrale Paris, 92295 Chatenay-Malabry, France, 7LISA, Univ. Paris-Est Créteil, U. Denis Diderot & CNRS, 
94000 Créteil, France, 8California Inst. Tech., Pasadena, CA, 9Honeybee Robotics, New York, NY, 9Rensselaer Pol-
ytechnic Inst., Troy, NY, 10Concordia College, Moorhead, MN 56562, 11NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett 
Field, CA, 12Massachusetts Inst.Tech,, Cambridge, MA, 13U. Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F. 04510, 
Mexico, 14U. Hawaii, Manoa 15University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 16Carnegie Institute of Washington, 
Washington, DC, 17Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, 18U. of California, Davis, CA, 19Georgia Inst. Tech., Atlanta, GA 
 
 
Introduction:  During the first 120 sols of Curiosi-
ty’s landed mission on Mars (8/6/2012 to 12/7/2012) 
SAM sampled the atmosphere 9 times and an eolian 
bedform named Rocknest 4 times. The atmospheric 
experiments utilized SAM’s quadrupole mass spec-
trometer (QMS) and tunable laser spectrometer (TLS) 
while the solid sample experiments also utilized the 
gas chromatograph (GC). Although a number of core 
experiments were pre-programmed and stored in 
EEProm, a high level SAM scripting language enabled 
the team to optimize experiments based on prior runs. 
 
SAM and its Initial Experiment Sequences: The 
SAM instruments, its gas processing system (GPS) and 
its sample manipulation system (SMS) have been de-
scribed [1]. During the first few weeks of the landed 
mission SAM carried out instrument health checks and 
then began a series of experiments to measure atmos-
pheric composition and isotope ratios. SAM was oper-
ated 39 times in the first 120 sols for commissioning 
and science activities. From sol 56 to 102 Curiosity 
lingered at Rocknest to clean out the surfaces of the 
sample processing system by scooping several times 
into this fine grained material, vibrating to abrade pos-
sible contaminants from surfaces, and then discarding 
before finally delivering sample to SAM. 
  
Atmospheric Mixing Ratios of CO2, Ar, N2, O2, 
and CO: The mixing ratios of the 5 most abundant 
gases as measured by the QMS are shown in Figure 1. 
Significant differences discussed in this meeting [2] 
are present from the Viking results for Ar and N2, 
while results for the other gases are consistent with 
Viking. Calibration and data reduction methods are 
summarized by Trainer et al. [3]. In the first 120 sols 
on Mars the atmosphere has only been sampled at 
night but to search for diurnal variations day time 
measurements are also planned. 
Figure 1. Volume mixing ratios for major atmospher-
ic species. In contrast, Viking reported 2.7% and 
1.6% for N2 and Ar mixing ratios respectively. 
 
Atmospheric Methane: After the two sequences 
that combined QMS and TLS experiments, dedicated 
scripts were developed for each instrument to increase 
integration time and secure improved S/N for the trace 
methane detection. The six runs that exercised the 
SAM TLS IC laser have produced, to date, a 2 sigma 
upper limit of 3.5 ppb volume mixing ratio [4] from 
direct atmospheric sampling into the TLS. The me-
thane enrichment experiment has not yet been run. 
 
Atmospheric Isotope Ratios: 40Ar/36Ar deter-
mined by introducing gas from the GPS manifold in 
dynamic mode through a small capillary leak into the 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20130009709 2019-08-31T00:06:48+00:00Z
QMS is ~
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compositio
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samples w
HCN, C2H
Figure 2. M
 
       Isotop
Isotope rat
nest EGA g
δ18O in O2
these data 
reported [4
tian meteo
consistent 
 
Rocknest 
system inc
GC system
ated comp
1.9x103 [5]. T
he QMS [6] i
LS [6].  δ18
 the O in CO
rrestrial avera
ts are planned
to measure 
n of Kr and X
ios.  
Evolved from
s (Figure 2) re
835oC are H2
ese gases are g
erature compo
ted [9] as de
Likewise, the
fate or sulfide
e evolved O2 
 a perchlorate 
volution of s
ncident with th
s the most abu
ith possible o
3N, and NO al
ajor gases fr
e Results fro
ios that can be
ases are δ13C 
, and δ34S in S
is in progress
,6,7,16,17]. Th
rites and the D
with spectrosc
GCMS Result
luding therma
 performed as
ounds [12,13
he CO2 δ13C 
s consistent w
O measured b
2 is also subst
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 to include 
the abundanc
e, to refine th
 Rocknest Sa
leased from R
O, CO2, SO2,
iven by Arch
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composition o
 evolved SO2 
 [10]. Support
is produced fr
[11] such as C
imple chlorina
e O2. Water a
ndant gas rele
r likely mino
so detected [14
om Rocknest s
m Evolved R
 derived, to d
and δ18O in CO
O2. While ref
, prelimary re
e δ34S is cons
/H of ~5 tim
opic measurem
s: All elemen
l conductivity 
 designed [19
] (as well as
of ~45 per m
ith that derive
y the TLS [
antially heavi
M atmospher
gas enrichme
e and isotop
e 38Ar/36Ar an
mples: The m
ocknest sample
 and O2. Mol
er et al. [8]. Th
olved CO2 ca
f an Fe or M
may be derive
 for the sugge
om the decom
a(ClO4)2 come
ted compound
t several weig
ased from the
r species H2
,15,16]. 
amples. 
ocknest Gase
ate, from Rock
2, D/H in H2O
ined analysis o
sults have bee
istent with ma
es terrestrial 
ents [18]. 
ts of the GCM
detectors of th
]. Four chlorin
 H2O, SO2, 
il 
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ar 
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since t
chlorin
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pound
rate, o
GCMS
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move 
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Re
Sci Re
LPSC 
Webst
et al., 
(2013)
LPSC 
XLIV.
McAd
al. (B)
(2013)
LPSC 
[15] N
[16] W
et al., 
(2013)
LPSC 
[21] F
J. et al
Ac
suppor
were detected
st three Rock
ts of residua
imethylsilyltri
t in the SMS a
MS parts of th
ted chlorine c
unds derived f
cussion: The 
cant step towa
bjectives. Bo
nd preliminary
e atmospheric
ata and comp
current atmos
4001 [22] ma
tanding chang
rs. The Rockn
ent with perc
methane and d
 taken before
s to minimiz
his may be th
ated compoun
at while deriv
erivatized org
s that might ha
r other organic
 experiment. 
es, degradatio
 the processe
organic compo
h as the fines 
ferences: [1] 
v, 170 (401–4
XLIV. [3] Tra
er, C. et al., (2
(2013) LPSC
 LPSC XLIV
XLIV(B). [8]
 [9] Sutter, B
am et al., (201
, (2013) LPS
 LPSC XLIV
XLIV. [14] S
avarro-Gonza
ray, J. et al., (
(2013) LPSC
 LPSC XLIV
XLIV. [20] Bu
reissinet et al.
., (2013) LPSC
knowledgeme
ted by NASA 
 by the SAM
nest samples. 
l MTBSTFA
fluoroacetamid
nd detected b
e sequence. D
ompound [20,
rom this resid
SAM results,
rd realizing so
th the revised
 15N/14N ratio
 composition 
arison of the i
phere with th
y allow us to 
es in the atmo
est EGA-TLS
hlorate detect
ichlorometha
 analysis of t
e the effects 
e source of c
ds detected by
atized water i
anics, chlorin
ve been produ
 compounds w
UV radiation, 
n by H2O2 or
s that may ha
nds from surf
of Rocknest. 
Mahaffy P.M.
78). [2] Atrey
iner et al., (20
013) LPSC X
 XLIV. [6] 
. [7] Webste
 Archer, D. e
. et al., (2013
3) LPSC XLI
C XLIV. [12
. [13] Eigenb
tern, J. et al., 
lez, R. et al., (
2013) LPSC X
 XLIV(B). [1
. [19] Cabane
ch, A. et al., 
, (2013) LPSC
 XLIV.  
nts: The SA
and its GC ele
 GCMS analy
In addition, s
 (N-Methyl-N
e) were found
oth in the dire
erivitized wat
21] were amo
ual vapor.  
 to date, repre
me of the cor
-from-Viking 
s show consi
derived from 
sotopic compo
e same eleme
take further st
sphere over b
-GCMS data 
ion by Phoeni
ne by Viking.
he next set of
of the MTB
arbon in the s
 SAM. It is s
s detected, no
ated organic 
ced from a pe
ere detected 
high energy c
 other oxidan
ve conspired
ace exposed m
 et. al. (2012) 
a, S.K. et al., (
13) LPSC XLI
LIV. [5] Won
Franz, H.B. 
r, C. et al., (
t al., (2013) 
) LPSC XLIV
V. [11] Sutter
] Glavin, D. 
rode et al., (
(2013) LPSC X
2013) LPSC X
LIV. [17] Fra
8] Leshin, L. 
, M. et al., (
(2013) LPSC X
 XLIV. [22] 
M invesitigat
ment by CNE
sis of 
everal 
-tert-
 to be 
ct and 
er and 
ng the 
sent a 
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Ar/N 
stency 
mete-
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nts in 
eps in 
illions 
set is 
x and 
 Steps 
 solid 
STFA 
imple 
ignifi-
 com-
com-
rchlo-
by the 
osmic 
ts are 
to re-
ateri-
Space 
2013) 
V. [4] 
g, M. 
et al., 
2013) 
LPSC 
. [10] 
, B. et 
et al., 
2013) 
LIV. 
LIV. 
nz, H. 
et al., 
2013) 
LIV. 
Jones, 
ion is 
S.  


Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Investigation: Overview of Results from the First 120 Sols on Mars

Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Investigation: Overview of Results from the First 120 Sols on Mars

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