Mars Science Laboratory - Methane Detection Capability?

[newtons_laws]

<p>I'm sure many of you will have seen the exciting news <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif" border="0" alt="Cool" title="Cool" />&nbsp; from NASA about methane plumes being detected on Mars from earth based observations:</p><p>http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/news/marsmethane.html</p><p>That article identifies that the origin of the methane could be biological or geological, and in order to distinguish between them isotopic ratio measurements could be made.&nbsp; It says "&nbsp;It will take future missions, like NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, to discover the origin of the Martian methane."&nbsp; However, looking at the instruments fitted to Mars Science Laboratory it is not clear to me whether any of the instruments can detect methane, let alone do isotope rato comparisons.&nbsp; Does anyone know whether the MSL will have this capability, and if not are there any other planned Mars missions with this capability?</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

From the interview on NASA TV the other day, yes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p>See the section on the <span class="mw-headline">Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) at the MSL page on Wikpedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory#CheMin</span></p><p><span class="mw-headline">SAM contains a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), Gas Chromatograph (GC) and a Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS).&nbsp; </span><span class="mw-headline">The&nbsp;QMS will detect gases sampled from the atmosphere or those released from solid samples by heating. The&nbsp;GS will be used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components. The&nbsp;TLS will perform precision measurements of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in carbon dioxide and methane.</span></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>This is one of the primary objectives of the MSL mission. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Not only the detection of methane but also does it vary over short distances indicative of potential microbes, or volcanic outgassings. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>The landing site once selected will certainly help discriminate the source of any methane at that location. Supposing Gale Crater is selected. No evidence thus far, of ongoing volcanism in that location (in fact anywgere on Mars, though evidence is present in some places for 'recent' volcanism), a currently geologically dead site, any methane originating there would more likely be from a biological source, though decomposition of olivine could not be ruled out. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Difficult one & one IMO it will take more than one single mission to solve, unless MSL can get visual as well as chemical evidence of a biological & / or geological source. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[dragon04]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>This is one of the primary objectives of the MSL mission. Not only the detection of methane but also does it vary over short distances indicative of potential microbes, or volcanic outgassings. The landing site once selected will certainly help discriminate the source of any methane at that location. Supposing Gale Crater is selected. No evidence thus far, of ongoing volcanism in that location (in fact anywgere on Mars, though evidence is present in some places for 'recent' volcanism), a currently geologically dead site, any methane originating there would more likely be from a biological source, though decomposition of olivine could not be ruled out. Difficult one & one IMO it will take more than one single mission to solve, unless MSL can get visual as well as chemical evidence of a biological & / or geological source. Andrew Brown. <br /> Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>It would be awesome if a source of these methane emissions could be pinned down and a lander dropped on top of it for further investigation. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[newtons_laws]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>See the section on the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) at the MSL page on Wikpedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Science_Laboratory#CheMinSAM contains a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), Gas Chromatograph (GC) and a Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS).&nbsp; The&nbsp;QMS will detect gases sampled from the atmosphere or those released from solid samples by heating. The&nbsp;GS will be used to separate out individual gases from a complex mixture into molecular components. The&nbsp;TLS will perform precision measurements of oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in carbon dioxide and methane. <br />Posted by jonclarke</DIV></p><p>Thanks everyone for the informative answers. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /></p><p>You say that the TLS will do isotope ratio measurements on oxygen and carbon, will it also do hydrogen/deuterium ratio measurements which was the biological/geological distinguishing measurement referred to in the NASA link?</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>