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NASA NTRS1975

Spacelab simulation using a Lear Jet aircraft: Mission no. 4 (ASSESS program)

The fourth ASSESS Spacelab simulation mission utilizing a Lear Jet aircraft featured trained experiment operators (EOs) in place of the participating scientists, to simulate the role and functions of payload specialists in Spacelab who may conduct experiments developed by other scientists. The experiment was a broadband infrared photometer coupled to a 30-cm, open port, IR telescope. No compromises in equipment design or target selection were made to simplify operator tasks; the science goals of the mission were selected to advance the mainline research program of the principle investigator (PI). Training of the EOs was the responsibility of the PI team and consisted of laboratory sessions, on-site training during experiment integration, and integrated mission training using the aircraft as a high-fidelity simulator. The EO permission experience in these several disciplines proved adequate for normal experiment operations, but marginal for the identification and remedy of equipment malfunctions. During the mission, the PI utilized a TV communication system to assist the EOs to overcome equipment difficulties; both science and operations were successfully implemented.

Reller, J. O., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Extreme ultraviolet survey experiment MA-083

A grazing incidence telescope sensitive to radiation in the 5- to 100-nanometer band was flown in the Apollo service module. On 10 nighttime revolutions, the command and service module was maneuvered to point the instrument at 30 different stellar targets for periods of 1 to 20 minutes, thus constituting the first sensitive search for extreme ultraviolet radiation from nonsolar sources. Several hours of supplementary data were also obtained during nighttime orbits when other experiments in the scientific instrument module bay were operating. Preliminary analysis of a small fraction of the total data indicates the definite detection of a strong source of extreme ultraviolet radiation during observations made during revolution 109. The source is located in Coma Berencies. The suggested optical identification is the white dwarf HZ 43. If this association is correct, the star has the highest temperature of any known white dwarf. Regardless of the optical identification, however, this object is the first nonsolar source to be detected in the extreme ultraviolet band.

Bowyer, S.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Probabilisitc Geobiological Classification Using Elemental Abundance Distributions and Lossless Image Compression in Recent and Modern Organisms

Last year we presented techniques for the detection of fossils during robotic missions to Mars using both structural and chemical signatures[Storrie-Lombardi and Hoover, 2004]. Analyses included lossless compression of photographic images to estimate the relative complexity of a putative fossil compared to the rock matrix [Corsetti and Storrie-Lombardi, 2003] and elemental abundance distributions to provide mineralogical classification of the rock matrix [Storrie-Lombardi and Fisk, 2004]. We presented a classification strategy employing two exploratory classification algorithms (Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) and non-linear stochastic neural network to produce a Bayesian estimate of classification accuracy. We now present an extension of our previous experiments exploring putative fossil forms morphologically resembling cyanobacteria discovered in the Orgueil meteorite. Elemental abundances (C6, N7, O8, Na11, Mg12, Ai13, Si14, P15, S16, Cl17, K19, Ca20, Fe26) obtained for both extant cyanobacteria and fossil trilobites produce signatures readily distinguishing them from meteorite targets. When compared to elemental abundance signatures for extant cyanobacteria Orgueil structures exhibit decreased abundances for C6, N7, Na11, All3, P15, Cl17, K19, Ca20 and increases in Mg12, S16, Fe26. Diatoms and silicified portions of cyanobacterial sheaths exhibiting high levels of silicon and correspondingly low levels of carbon cluster more closely with terrestrial fossils than with extant cyanobacteria. Compression indices verify that variations in random and redundant textural patterns between perceived forms and the background matrix contribute significantly to morphological visual identification. The results provide a quantitative probabilistic methodology for discriminating putatitive fossils from the surrounding rock matrix and &om extant organisms using both structural and chemical information. The techniques described appear applicable to the geobiological analysis of meteoritic samples or in situ exploration of the Mars regolith. Keywords: cyanobacteria, microfossils, Mars, elemental abundances, complexity analysis, multifactor analysis, principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, artificial neural networks, paleo-biosignatures

Storrie-Lombardi, Michael C.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Contact with Bennu! Flight Performance Versus Prediction of OSIRIS-REx TAG Sample Collection

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission collected a sample from the surface of the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in late 2020. Bennu challenged the team with a surface that was much rockier than expected, resulting in modifications to the prelaunch design of the Touch And Go (TAG) sequence. Following enhancements in onboard trajectory correction, ground-based navigation, and maneuver execution error modeling, the spacecraft was delivered to the chosen TAG site within 1 m of the target, and a sample was successfully collected on the first attempt. This paper provides a comprehensive description of all flight dynamics aspects of TAG trajectory planning and execution. It also describes hazard map generation and how that combined with error analysis results to predict the probability of safe contact before TAG and the onboard wave-off determination during TAG.

Kevin E Berry↗
NASA NTRS1988

Some test/analysis issues for the space station structural characterization experiment

The Space Station Structural Characterization Experiment (SSSCE) 1,2 is an early space flight experiment that uses the space station as a generic structure to study the dynamic characteristics of Large Space Structures (LSS). On-orbit modal testing will be conducted to determine natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping of dominant structural modes of the space structure assembly. This experiment will utimately support the development of system identification and analytical modeling techniques for Large Space Structures. In order to ensure the success of SSSCE (in-space validation of modeling techniques for LSS), adequate measurement and instrumentation requirements have to be established during the experiment-definition study. Among the issues affecting these requirements, spatial and modal coverages of the modal test data are of particular interest. Topics such as total number of sensors, type of measurements (translation and rotation), optimal sensor locations (measurement degrees-of-freedom), selection of target modes, effects of modal superposition and truncation, separation of global and local modes, etc., are all a fundamental importance and must be investigated.

Chou, Chaur-Ming↗
NASA NTRS1995

Observations of a large flare in GX 1+4 with the Compton gamma ray observatory

The pulsating X-ray binary GX 1+4 (4U 1728-24) was observed by Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) from 9 to 21 September 1993 as a target of oppurtunity after Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) had detected the onset of a large flare by the greatly increased pulsed flux at the period of approximately 2 min. The total flux in the 40-100 keV range as observed by the OSSE reached its maximum of 83 mCrab on 14/15 September, after which it fell sharply to about 31 mCrab within 2 days. The spectrum is well described by thermal type spectra. The characteristic temperature of the average OSSE spectrum for a thermal Bremsstrahlung model is kT = (35.5 +/- 0.5) keV. A single power law can be ruled out. There is evidence for a hardening of the spectrum with decreasing intensity at the end of the flare. The barycentric pulse period was (120.567 +/- 0.005) s on 5 September. The average spin-down rate as taken from the standard BATSE analysis was dP/dt = 0.0105 s/day, and constant over the time of the flare. A further target of oppurtunity (TOO) observation with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) on 18 September led to the first detection of the source with a reflecting X-ray telescope and to a signifcantly improved position: RA(2000) = 17h 32m 2.1s and DEC(2000) = -24 deg 44 min 44 sec. This position 3.5 sec from V2116 Oph, with a 90% error radius of 8 sec is the most accurate so far obtained with an X-ray instrument, thus confirming the identification with the suspected stellar counterpart.

Staubert, R.↗
NASA NTRS2009

An Assessment of GEO Orbital Debris Photometric Properties Derived from Laboratory-Based Measurements

Optical observations of orbital debris offer insights that differ from radar measurements (specifically the size parameter and wavelength regime). For example, time-dependent photometric data yield lightcurves in multiple bandpasses that aid in material identification and possible periodic orientations. This data can also be used to help identify shapes and optical properties at multiple phase angles. Capitalizing on optical data products and applying them to generate a more complete understanding of orbital space objects, is a key objective of NASA s Optical Measurement Program, and a primary driver for creation of the Optical Measurements Center (OMC). The OMC attempts to emulate space-based illumination conditions using equipment and techniques that parallel telescopic observations and source-target-sensor orientations. The OMC uses a 300 Watt Xenon arc lamp as a solar simulator, a CCD camera with Johnson/Bessel colored filters, and a robotic arm to orientate/rotate objects to simulate an object's orbit/rotational period. A high-resolution, high bandwidth (350nm-2500nm) Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) spectrometer is also employed to baseline various material types. Since observation of GEO targets are generally restricted to the optical regime (due to radar range limitations), analysis of their properties is tailored to those revealed by optical data products. In this connection, much attention has been directed towards understanding the lightcurves of orbital debris with high area-to-mass (A/m) ratios (greater than 0.9 square meters per kilogram). A small population of GEO debris was recently identified, which exhibits the properties of high A/m objects, such as variable eccentricities and inclinations a dynamical characteristic generally resulting from varying solar radiation pressure on high A/m objects. Materials such as multi-layered insulation (MLI) and solar panels are two examples of materials with high area-to mass ratios. Lightcurves for such objects can vary greatly (even for the same object under different illumination conditions). For example, specular reflections from multiple facets of the target surface (e.g. Mylar or Aluminized Kapton) can lead to erratic, orientation-dependent light curves. This paper will investigate published color photometric data for a series of orbital debris targets and compare it to the empirical photometric measurements generated in the OMC. The specific materials investigated (known to exist in GEO) are: an intact piece of MLI, separated layers of MLI, and multiple solar cells materials. Using the data acquired over specific rotational angles through different filters (B, V, R, I), a color index is acquired (B-R, R-I). As a secondary check, the spectrometer is used to define color indexes for the same material. Using these values and their associated lightcurves, this laboratory data is compared to observational data obtained on the 1m telescope of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AUIB) and the 0.9 m Small and Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS) telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). We will present laboratory generated lightcurves with color indexes of the high A/m materials alongside telescopic data of targets with high A/m values. We will discuss the relationship of laboratory to telescope data in the context of classification of GEO debris objects.

Rodriquez-Cowardin, H.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Orbital Debris Characterization via Laboratory Optical Measurements

Optical observations of orbital debris offer insights that differ from radar measurements (specifically the size parameter,wavelength regime,and altitude range). For example, time-dependent photometric data yield lightcurves in multiple bandpasses that aid in material identification and possible periodic orientations. These data can also be used to help identify shapes and optical properties at multiple phase angles. Capitalizing on optical data products and applying them to generate a more complete understanding of orbital objects is a key objective of NASA's Optical Measurement Program, and the primary reason for the creation of the Optical Measurements Center(OMC). The OMC attempts to emulate space-based illumination conditions using equipment and techniques that parallel telescopic observations and source-target-sensor orientations.

Cowardin, Healther↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

On the Hunt for Detectable Biosignatures in Jezero Crater: What to Look for and Where

Introduction: The Perseverance rover, which is currently exploring Jezero crater on Mars, is equipped with seven instruments that allow for observation of textures, minerals, color, structure, and chemistry of rocks and sediments in order to search for signs of ancient life, understand the geologic history of the crater, and identify candidates for sample return (Farley et al. 2020). The first of these aims includes the direct detection of potential biosignatures, including textures, organic molecules, minerals, and elemental chemistries that are of biogenic origin (Mustard et al. 2013). The presence of these biosignatures will be constrained by the habitability of the local region, the preservation potential of the host rocks, and the sensitivity of the instrument suite, and their biogenicity will be investigated after return to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. Here, we examine key targets on the three planned campaigns, potential biosignatures that may be present, and the capabilities of key rover instruments. High Potential Biosignature Sites in Jezero: To date, measurements have been made on multiple sites that both contain minerals known in terrestrial settings to preserve biosignatures and likely were habitable settings (Williford et al. 2021). Two examples include the fine-grained rocks at the base of the delta fan and the NW inner margin of the crater. Fine-grained Rocks at Base of Delta Fan. Fine-grained, clay-bearing rocks may have been deposited as muddy lake sediments that could have hosted life and preserved biosignatures settling out of the water column. The report of organic molecules by the Curiosity rover in the Sheepbed mudstone and Murray formation has highlighted this site in particular. Potential biosignatures in mudstones, especially those rich in silica (McMahon et al. 2018), microbialites and complex organics. NW Inner Margin of Crater. This unit, located along the inner margin of the crater, contains strong carbonate signatures and may have been the littoral zone of a lake (Horgan et al. 2020). The potential biosignatures here include microfossils, microbialites, biominerals, and complex organics. Detectability of Biosignatures by the Mars 2020 Instrument Suite: The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument comprises a Deep UV spectrometer, context imager, and color camera to generate spatially resolved chemical maps (Bhartia et al. 2020). It is sensitive to trace organics as well as a range of minerals and can detect native fluorescence from aromatic organics; the WATSON and ACI cameras can be used to observe morphologies such as stromatolitic laminations or filaments ranging from the tens of micron to millimeter scale. SHERLOC can detect organics that may be present in either of the high potential biosignature targets, as well as detect carbonates in the latter. However, the presence of high amounts of iron, such as in iron-rich clays, would cause attenuation of spectral response through UV absorption. The Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) comprises an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and camera that can scan rock surfaces to generate elemental maps (Allwood et al. 2020). PIXL can detect chemical biosignatures such as spatial variations of elemental abundances that may have resulted from biological activity. PIXL would be particularly useful in detecting fine textures and elemental chemistries in either high potential biosignature target, but cannot directly detect minerals such as carbonate. The SuperCam instrument performs three types of spectroscopy, color imaging, and acoustic recording to remotely examine elemental composition, minerals, organics, and textures (Maurice et al. 2021). Using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and time resolved luminescence spectroscopy, SuperCam can detect major elemental building blocks of organics (i.e., C, H, N, O, P, S) and conjugated organic structures, respectively, which may be found in either site. While in other contexts, luminescence is a useful tool for biosignature identification, luminescence generated by the 532 nm laser may obscure the Raman signal. Conclusion: The three instruments discussed can be used collaboratively to establish the presence of potential biosignatures in samples. These high-priority samples may then be returned to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis.

S. Sharma↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Capturing Complex Multivariate Time Series Interactions to Detect High-Risk Adverse Events During Flight

The reduction of aviation safety metrics below target thresholds continue to drive down the number of aviation fatalities and accidents. To meet future safety demands, sustained efforts by aviation agencies promoting safety assurance processes and systems have prompted ongoing research on identifying and mitigating in-flight risks. With the projected increase in passenger load factor and rollout of more autonomous systems into the national airspace, the need to detect high-risk events in-time or ahead-of-time is becoming increasingly crucial. New anomaly detection and precursor identification algorithms will need to scale to different airframes, levels of autonomy, and system complexity. While the pervasiveness of deep learning has resulted in the development of performant anomaly detection methods, these sophisticated models currently suffer from low end-user interpretability. Building off our previous work on identifying adverse events in multivariate flight data during descent, we propose a data-driven approach for detecting in-flight adverse events caused by the complex interplay of flight variables. Our approach utilizes ordinal patterns of important aircraft stability variables (e.g., airspeed and descent rate) to capture multivariate flight dynamics that can be used to predict the onset of unstable approaches, a high-risk adverse event that can occur during approach. Through the use of ordinal patterns, we aim to create more interpretable detection models of in-flight adverse events that can be translated to future autonomous systems without difficulty. Our analysis shows the presence of distinct ordinal pattern distributions that can be used to predict unstable approaches 1 minute ahead of time with an accuracy of 0.69 and a recall of 0.73 and 30 seconds ahead with an accuracy of 0.70 and a recall of 0.86.

Risk detection↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Capturing Multivariate Time Series Interactions to Detect High‑Risk Instability During Approach

The reduction of aviation safety metrics below target thresholds continue to drive down the number of aviation fatalities and accidents. To meet future safety demands, sustained efforts by aviation agencies promoting safety assurance processes and systems have prompted ongoing research on identifying and mitigating in-flight risks. With the projected increase in passenger load factor and rollout of more autonomous systems into the national airspace, the need to detect high-risk events in-time or ahead-of-time is becoming increasingly crucial. New anomaly detection and precursor identification algorithms will need to scale to different airframes, levels of autonomy, and system complexity. While the pervasiveness of deep learning has resulted in the development of performant anomaly detection methods, these sophisticated models currently suffer from low end-user interpretability. Building off our previous work on identifying adverse events in multivariate flight data during descent, we propose a data-driven approach for detecting in-flight adverse events caused by the complex interplay of flight variables. Our approach utilizes ordinal patterns of important aircraft stability variables (e.g., airspeed and descent rate) to capture multivariate flight dynamics that can be used to predict the onset of unstable approaches, a high-risk adverse event that can occur during approach. Through the use of ordinal patterns, we aim to create more interpretable detection models of in-flight adverse events that can be translated to future autonomous systems without difficulty. Our analysis shows the presence of distinct ordinal pattern distributions that can be used to predict unstable approaches 1 minute ahead of time with an accuracy of 0.69 and a recall of 0.73 and 30 seconds ahead with an accuracy of 0.70 and a recall of 0.86.

Risk detection↗
NASA NTRS1973

Study for identification of Beneficial Uses of Space (BUS). Volume 2: Technical report. Book 1: Sections 1 through 4

Consolidated information is presented for the study whose purpose was to identify products, processes, and services to be produced in future spacecraft environments for direct utilization on earth. Discussion of methodology for selecting from among potential space processing approaches, definition of requirements for experiments and tests needed to acquire sufficient knowledge for proof testing of selected processes, formulation of research and development schedules to achieve proof testing, and documentation of the decision processes involved in the programs are presented. Technology and programmatics are reported for the following select studies: (1) surface acoustic wave components; (2) transparent oxides; (3) high purity tungsten X-ray targets; and (4) high specificity isoenzymes.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1984

Automatic corn-soybean classification using Landsat MSS data. I - Near-harvest crop proportion estimation. II - Early season crop proportion estimation

The techniques used initially for the identification of cultivated crops from Landsat imagery depended greatly on the iterpretation of film products by a human analyst. This approach was not very effective and objective. Since 1978, new methods for crop identification are being developed. Badhwar et al. (1982) showed that multitemporal-multispectral data could be reduced to a simple feature space of alpha and beta and that these features would separate corn and soybean very well. However, there are disadvantages related to the use of alpha and beta parameters. The present investigation is concerned with a suitable method for extracting the required features. Attention is given to a profile model for crop discrimination, corn-soybean separation using profile parameters, and an automatic labeling (target recognition) method. The developed technique is extended to obtain a procedure which makes it possible to estimate the crop proportion of corn and soybean from Landsat data early in the growing season.

Badhwar, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Toward the optimization of control of unsteady separation

Regardless of our understanding of the complicated physical process, means can always be found to alter the occurrence and development of unsteady separation. To be able to optimize the control of separation, however, requires the identification of the critical aspects to which the intervention may be focused and achieve the desired result with minimum waste of effort. The Lagrangian analysis of unsteady boundary-layer traces the trajectories of individual fluid particles and reveals the 'bad seeds' that, through extreme deformation in the direction normal to the wall, eventually develop into a virtual barrier and cause the ejection of boundary-layer material into the main stream. It follows logically that separation can be triggered or delayed most effectively by targeting these 'bad seeds.' Since they are normally interior points of the boundary layer, attempts to influence them through the boundary conditions are necessarily indirect. Furthermore, as the strategy has to be the modification of the growing process of the 'bad seeds,' whatever may be the intervention scheme, it needs to be strong enough and early enough. In Shen and Wu, examples of how acceleration/deceleration of the two dimensional body, as well as the moving wall of a rotating cylinder, may affect the development of the bad seed toward separation are shown. In fact it was mentioned therein that the results might be the first step for a feasibility study of the control of unsteady separation. Presented are additional results of applying suction to an impulsively started circular cylinder.

Shen, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Not Your Ordinary GEM

Through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from NASA's Stennis Space Center, Geophex devised a new design for broadband electromagnetic sensors. Geophex developed a patented sensing technology, capable not only of coastal monitoring, but also a variety of other functions, including environmental pollution characterization, groundwater contamination detection, archaeological study, and mineral detection. The new technology is offered in several of the company's products the GEM-2, GEM-2A, and the GEM-3. The Geophex products consist of two primary electromagnetic coils, which are stimulated by alternating currents that generate a magnetic field in the object targeted for investigation. GEM-2 is a handheld, lightweight, programmable, digital device. GEM-2A is an airborne version of the sensor. Suspended from a helicopter, the GEM-2A is used to search for mineral deposits and to survey large tracts of land. The GEM-3 is capable of detecting buried landmines and other active munitions. GEM-3 identifies landmines by their brand names. Because each landmine has its own unique electromagnetic response to the broad frequency band emitted by the GEM-3, bomb identification and disposal strategies are made easier.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ground Use Sensor

Ground use sensory systems are used for measuring and analyzing radiation reflected from Earth targets to discriminate among classes of visually-similar objects. The Hand Held Ratioing Radiometer is an example of a ground use device. This device is being manufactured and sold by Barringer Research Limited under a patent license. The battery-powered unit, designed for field portable use, weighs 12 pounds. An added capability of the Ratioing Radiometer is that it simultaneously analyzes radiation intensities in two separate bands of the spectrum and calculates the ratio of one to the other which affords more positive identification of the material being analyzed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2010

Stereoscopic Machine-Vision System Using Projected Circles

A machine-vision system capable of detecting obstacles large enough to damage or trap a robotic vehicle is undergoing development. The system includes (1) a pattern generator that projects concentric circles of laser light forward onto the terrain, (2) a stereoscopic pair of cameras that are aimed forward to acquire images of the circles, (3) a frame grabber and digitizer for acquiring image data from the cameras, and (4) a single-board computer that processes the data. The system is being developed as a prototype of machine- vision systems to enable robotic vehicles ( rovers ) on remote planets to avoid craters, large rocks, and other terrain features that could capture or damage the vehicles. Potential terrestrial applications of systems like this one could include terrain mapping, collision avoidance, navigation of robotic vehicles, mining, and robotic rescue. This system is based partly on the same principles as those of a prior stereoscopic machine-vision system in which the cameras acquire images of a single stripe of laser light that is swept forward across the terrain. However, this system is designed to afford improvements over some of the undesirable features of the prior system, including the need for a pan-and-tilt mechanism to aim the laser to generate the swept stripe, ambiguities in interpretation of the single-stripe image, the time needed to sweep the stripe across the terrain and process the data from many images acquired during that time, and difficulty of calibration because of the narrowness of the stripe. In this system, the pattern generator does not contain any moving parts and need not be mounted on a pan-and-tilt mechanism: the pattern of concentric circles is projected steadily in the forward direction. The system calibrates itself by use of data acquired during projection of the concentric-circle pattern onto a known target representing flat ground. The calibration- target image data are stored in the computer memory for use as a template in processing terrain images. During operation on terrain, the images acquired by the left and right cameras are analyzed. The analysis includes (1) computation of the horizontal and vertical dimensions and the aspect ratios of rectangles that bound the circle images and (2) comparison of these aspect ratios with those of the template. Coordinates of distortions of the circles are used to identify and locate objects. If the analysis leads to identification of an object of significant size, then stereoscopicvision algorithms are used to estimate the distance to the object. The time taken in performing this analysis on a single pair of images acquired by the left and right cameras in this system is a fraction of the time taken in processing the many pairs of images acquired in a sweep of the laser stripe across the field of view in the prior system. The results of the analysis include data on sizes and shapes of, and distances and directions to, objects. Coordinates of objects are updated as the vehicle moves so that intelligent decisions regarding speed and direction can be made. The results of the analysis are utilized in a computational decision-making process that generates obstacle-avoidance data and feeds those data to the control system of the robotic vehicle.

Mackey, Jeffrey R.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Development of Analytical Protocols For Organics and Isotopes Analysis on the 2009 MARS Science Laboratory.

The Mars Science Laboratory, under development for launch in 2009, is designed explore and quantitatively asses a local region on Mars as a potential habitat for present or past life. Its ambitious goals are to (1) assess the past or present biological potential of the target environment, (2) to characterize the geology and geochemistry at the MSL landing site, and (3) to investigate planetary processes that influence habitability. The planned capabilities of the rover payload will enable a comprehensive search for organic molecules, a determination of definitive mineralogy of sampled rocks and fines, chemical and isotopic analysis of both atmospheric and solid samples, and precision isotope measurements of several volatile elements. A range of contact and remote surface and subsurface survey tools will establish context for these measurements and will facilitate sample identification and selection. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite of MSL addresses several of the mission's core measurement goals. It includes a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer. These instruments will be designed to analyze either atmospheric samples or gases extracted from solid phase samples such as rocks and fines. We will describe the range of measurement protocols under development and study by the SAM engineering and science teams for use on the surface of Mars.

Mahaffy, P. R.↗