Article Posted on : - May 31, 2011

The SAM instrument suite (real and schematic views). Photo: NASA.

PARIS (BNS): The SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) suite of instruments, which will study the organic composition of the Martian soil and atmosphere for the MSL mission, is all set to go.

The French researchers have developed one of the 3 instruments in the SAM suite that will depart for Mars later this year on the 'Curiosity' rover for the MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) mission, according to a news release by CNES.

SAM’s mission will be to identify and measure organic elements and compounds in soil and atmosphere samples collected in situ.

By gradually heating samples to a temperature of 1,000°C or subjecting them to chemical reactions with a compound aboard the rover, SAM-GC will be capable of identifying the molecules they contain.