Curiosity's soil sample analysis reveals no surprises
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Details of SAM's detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons (Image: NASA)
Details of SAM's measurement of large amounts of deuterium in Martian soil water (Image: NASA)
Details of SAM's measurement of gases driven off from soil samples by heating (Image: NASA)
Details of SAM's mass spectrometer measurement of gases driven off from soil samples by heating (Image: NASA)
Scoop marks left behind by Curiosity's soil sampling (Photo: NASA)
The Rocknest drift from which Curiosity took soil samples for analysis (Photo: NASA)
Curiosity's SAM instrumentation (Photo: NASA)
The CheMin's X-ray diffraction photograph of the Rocknest soil samples (Photo: NASA)
Article Summary
NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has used its Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instruments to analyze its first scoop of Martian soil. These instruments allowed Curiosity to perform a wide range of chemical and structural tests which found signs of a complex and active soil chemistry – but no sign of life.
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