The
gas chromatograph (GC) is used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components. The resulting gas flow is analyzed in the mass spectrometer with a mass range of 2–535
daltons.[1][5]
The SAM has three subsystems: the 'chemical separation and processing laboratory', for enrichment and
derivatization of the
organic molecules of the sample; the sample manipulation system (SMS) for transporting powder delivered from the MSL drill to a SAM inlet and into one of 74 sample cups.[1] The SMS then moves the sample to the SAM oven to release gases by heating to up to 1000 °C;[1][8] and the pump subsystem to purge the separators and analysers.
The
Space Physics Research Laboratory at the
University of Michigan built the main power supply, command and data handling unit, valve and heater controller, filament/bias controller, and high voltage module. The uncooled infrared detectors were developed and provided by the Polish company VIGO System.[9]
Timeline
9 November 2012: A pinch of fine sand and dust became the first solid
Martian sample deposited into the SAM. The sample came from the patch of windblown material called
Rocknest, which had provided a sample previously for mineralogical analysis by
CheMin instrument.[10]
3 December 2012: NASA reported SAM had detected
water molecules,
chlorine and
sulphur. Hints of organic compounds couldn't be ruled out as contamination from Curiosity itself, however.[11][12]
16 December 2014: NASA reported the Curiosity rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of
methane in the
Martian atmosphere. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.[13][14] In addition, high levels of
organic chemicals, particularly
chlorobenzene, were detected in powder drilled from one of the rocks, named "
Cumberland", analyzed by the Curiosity rover.[13][14]
24 March 2015: NASA reported the first detection of
nitrogen released after heating surface sediments on the planet Mars. The nitrogen in
nitrate is in a "fixed" state, meaning that it is in an oxidized form that can be used by
living organisms. The discovery supports the notion that ancient Mars may have been habitable for
life.[15][16][17]
4 April 2015: NASA reported studies, based on measurements by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the
Curiosity rover, of the
Martian atmosphere using
xenon and
argonisotopes. Results provided support for a "vigorous" loss of atmosphere early in the history of Mars and were consistent with an
atmospheric signature found in bits of atmosphere captured in some
Martian meteorites found on Earth.[18]
15 November 2020, NASA scientists including
Joanna Clark, were able to replicate a Mars simulant based soil using SAM, on Earth called JSC-Rocknest which is being used for a series of tests including heating it to different temperatures to determine its water re-absorption rate and ability to be broken down into compounds needed for liveable conditions.[19]
The
gas chromatograph (GC) is used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components. The resulting gas flow is analyzed in the mass spectrometer with a mass range of 2–535
daltons.[1][5]
The SAM has three subsystems: the 'chemical separation and processing laboratory', for enrichment and
derivatization of the
organic molecules of the sample; the sample manipulation system (SMS) for transporting powder delivered from the MSL drill to a SAM inlet and into one of 74 sample cups.[1] The SMS then moves the sample to the SAM oven to release gases by heating to up to 1000 °C;[1][8] and the pump subsystem to purge the separators and analysers.
The
Space Physics Research Laboratory at the
University of Michigan built the main power supply, command and data handling unit, valve and heater controller, filament/bias controller, and high voltage module. The uncooled infrared detectors were developed and provided by the Polish company VIGO System.[9]
Timeline
9 November 2012: A pinch of fine sand and dust became the first solid
Martian sample deposited into the SAM. The sample came from the patch of windblown material called
Rocknest, which had provided a sample previously for mineralogical analysis by
CheMin instrument.[10]
3 December 2012: NASA reported SAM had detected
water molecules,
chlorine and
sulphur. Hints of organic compounds couldn't be ruled out as contamination from Curiosity itself, however.[11][12]
16 December 2014: NASA reported the Curiosity rover detected a "tenfold spike", likely localized, in the amount of
methane in the
Martian atmosphere. Sample measurements taken "a dozen times over 20 months" showed increases in late 2013 and early 2014, averaging "7 parts of methane per billion in the atmosphere." Before and after that, readings averaged around one-tenth that level.[13][14] In addition, high levels of
organic chemicals, particularly
chlorobenzene, were detected in powder drilled from one of the rocks, named "
Cumberland", analyzed by the Curiosity rover.[13][14]
24 March 2015: NASA reported the first detection of
nitrogen released after heating surface sediments on the planet Mars. The nitrogen in
nitrate is in a "fixed" state, meaning that it is in an oxidized form that can be used by
living organisms. The discovery supports the notion that ancient Mars may have been habitable for
life.[15][16][17]
4 April 2015: NASA reported studies, based on measurements by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the
Curiosity rover, of the
Martian atmosphere using
xenon and
argonisotopes. Results provided support for a "vigorous" loss of atmosphere early in the history of Mars and were consistent with an
atmospheric signature found in bits of atmosphere captured in some
Martian meteorites found on Earth.[18]
15 November 2020, NASA scientists including
Joanna Clark, were able to replicate a Mars simulant based soil using SAM, on Earth called JSC-Rocknest which is being used for a series of tests including heating it to different temperatures to determine its water re-absorption rate and ability to be broken down into compounds needed for liveable conditions.[19]