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The Search for Ammonia in Martian Soils with Curiosity's SAM InstrumentNitrogen is the second or third most abundant constituent of the Martian atmosphere [1,2]. It is a bioessential element, a component of all amino acids and nucleic acids that make up proteins, DNA and RNA, so assessing its availability is a key part of Curiosity's mission to characterize Martian habitability. In oxidizing desert environments it is found in nitrate salts that co-occur with perchlorates [e.g., 3], inferred to be widespread in Mars soils [4-6]. A Mars nitrogen cycle has been proposed [7], yet prior missions have not constrained the state of surface N. Here we explore Curiosity's ability to detect N compounds using data from the rover's first solid sample. Companion abstracts describe evidence for nitrates [8] and for nitriles (C(triple bond)N) [9]; we focus here on nonnitrile, reduced-N compounds as inferred from bonded N-H. The simplest such compound is ammonia (NH3), found in many carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in NH4(+) salts and organic compounds [e.g., 10].
Document ID
20130009148
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wray, James J. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Atlanta, GA, United States)
Archer, P. D. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Brinckerhoff, W. B. (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)
Freissinet, C. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Glavin, D. P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mahaffy, P. R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McKay, C. P. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Navarro-Gonzalez, R. (Universidad Nacional de Mexico Mexico City, Mexico)
Steele, A. (Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington, DC, United States)
Webster, C. R. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
March 18, 2013
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-27933
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 18, 2013
End Date: March 22, 2013
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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