R. Navarro‐González
A5083655727- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Origins and Evolution of Life
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Chemical Analysis and Environmental Impact
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Radiation Effects and Dosimetry
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
- Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure
- Light effects on plants
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2015-2025
Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México
1998-2022
University of California, San Diego
2022
Centre National d'Études Spatiales
2019-2021
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares
1991-2018
Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra
2015
Ames Research Center
2003-2013
Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques
2003-2007
Université Paris-Est Créteil
2003-2007
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2003-2007
The Viking missions showed the martian soil to be lifeless and depleted in organic material indicated presence of one or more reactive oxidants. Here we report Mars-like soils extreme arid region Atacama Desert. Samples from this had species only at trace levels extremely low culturable bacteria. Two samples were tested for DNA none was recovered. Incubation experiments, patterned after labeled-release experiment but with separate biological nonbiological isomers, show active decomposition...
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) investigation of the Science Laboratory (MSL) addresses chemical and isotopic composition atmosphere volatiles extracted from solid samples. SAM is designed to contribute substantially mission goal quantitatively assessing habitability as an essential step in search for past or present life on Mars. a 40 kg instrument suite located interior MSL's Curiosity rover. instruments are quadrupole mass spectrometer, tunable laser 6-column gas chromatograph all...
Abstract The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on board the Science Laboratory Curiosity rover is designed to conduct inorganic and organic chemical analyses of atmosphere surface regolith rocks help evaluate past present habitability potential Gale Crater. Central this task development an inventory any molecules elucidate processes associated with their origin, diagenesis, concentration, long‐term preservation. This will guide future search for biosignatures. Here we report...
Establishing the presence and state of organic matter, including its possible biosignatures, in martian materials has been an elusive quest, despite limited reports existence matter on Mars. We report situ detection preserved lacustrine mudstones at base ~3.5-billion-year-old Murray formation Pahrump Hills, Gale crater, by Sample Analysis Mars instrument suite onboard Curiosity rover. Diverse pyrolysis products, thiophenic, aromatic, aliphatic compounds released high temperatures (500° to...
Reports of plumes or patches methane in the martian atmosphere that vary over monthly time scales have defied explanation to date. From situ measurements made a 20-month period by tunable laser spectrometer Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite on Curiosity Gale crater, we report detection background levels atmospheric mean value 0.69 ± 0.25 parts per billion volume (ppbv) 95% confidence interval (CI). This abundance is lower than model estimates ultraviolet degradation accreted...
Samples from the Rocknest aeolian deposit were heated to ~835°C under helium flow and evolved gases analyzed by Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. H 2 O, SO , CO O major released. Water abundance (1.5 3 weight percent) release temperature suggest that is bound within an amorphous component of sample. Decomposition fine-grained Fe or Mg carbonate likely source much . Evolved coincident with Cl, suggesting oxygen produced thermal decomposition oxychloride compound. Elevated...
H 2 O, CO , SO O S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition carbonates combustion organic materials are candidate sources for . Concurrent evolution hydrocarbons suggests presence oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides likely...
A single scoop of the Rocknest aeolian deposit was sieved (< 150 µm), and four separate sample portions, each with a mass ~50 mg, were delivered to individual cups inside Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument by Science Laboratory rover's acquisition system. The samples analyzed separately SAM pyrolysis evolved gas chromatograph spectrometer analysis modes. Several chlorinated hydrocarbons including chloromethane, dichloromethane, trichloromethane, chloromethylpropene, chlorobenzene...
The most comprehensive search for organics in the Martian soil was performed by Viking Landers. subjected to a thermal volatilization process vaporize and break organic molecules, resultant gases volatiles were analyzed gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Only water at 0.1–1.0 wt% detected, with traces of chloromethane 15 ppb, landing site 1, 0.05–1.0 carbon dioxide 50–700 ppm, dichloromethane 0.04–40 2. These chlorohydrocarbons considered be terrestrial contaminants, although they had not...
The Rocknest aeolian deposit is similar to features analyzed by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) Spirit and Opportunity. fraction of sand <150 micrometers in size contains ~55% crystalline material consistent with a basaltic heritage ~45% x-ray amorphous material. component iron-rich silicon-poor host volatiles (water, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, carbon chlorine) detected Sample Analysis at instrument fine-grained nanophase oxide first described from soils MERs. similarity between materials...
Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because measurements are not repeatable time or location. We report situ at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by Tunable Laser Spectrometer on Curiosity rover. The background mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit strong, seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv). This is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation impact-delivered...
We determined radiogenic and cosmogenic noble gases in a mudstone on the floor of Gale Crater. A K-Ar age 4.21 ± 0.35 billion years represents mixture detrital authigenic components confirms expected antiquity rocks comprising crater rim. Cosmic-ray-produced (3)He, (21)Ne, (36)Ar yield concordant surface exposure ages 78 30 million years. Surface occurred mainly present geomorphic setting rather than during primary erosion transport. Our observations are consistent with deposition shortly...
Abstract The sample analysis at Mars instrument evolved gas analyzer (SAM‐EGA) has detected water, H 2 , SO S, NO, CO CO, O and HCl from two eolian sediments nine sedimentary rocks Gale Crater, Mars. These detections indicate nitrates, organics, oxychlorine phase, sulfates are widespread with phyllosilicates carbonates occurring in select Crater materials. Coevolved (160 ± 248–2373 820 μgC (CO2) /g) (11 3–320 130 (CO) suggest that organic C is present Five samples temperatures consistent...
Significance We present data supporting the presence of an indigenous source fixed nitrogen on surface Mars in form nitrate. This may indicate first stage development a primitive cycle ancient and would have provided biochemically accessible nitrogen.
Abstract On the NASA 2020 rover mission to Jezero crater, remote determination of texture, mineralogy and chemistry rocks is essential quickly thoroughly characterize an area optimize selection samples for return Earth. As part Perseverance payload, SuperCam a suite five techniques that provide critical complementary observations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman Luminescence (TRR/L), visible near-infrared spectroscopy (VISIR), high-resolution color imaging...
The failure of Viking Lander thermal volatilization (TV) (without or with degradation)-gas chromatography (GC)-MS experiments to detect organics suggests chemical rather than biological interpretations for the reactivity martian soil. Here, we report that TV-GC-MS may be blind low levels on Mars. A comparison between and total has been conducted a variety Mars analog soils. In Antarctic Dry Valleys Atacama Libyan Deserts find 10-90 mug refractory graphitic carbon per gram soil, which would...
The deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in strongly bound water or hydroxyl groups ancient martian clays retains the imprint of formation these minerals. Curiosity's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) experiment measured thermally evolved and hydrogen gas released between 550° 950°C from samples Hesperian-era Gale crater smectite to determine this isotope ratio. D/H value is 3.0 (±0.2) times standard mean ocean water. ~3-billion-year-old mudstone, which half that present atmosphere but...
[1] The quadrupole mass spectrometer of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on
Abstract The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument onboard the Science Laboratory Curiosity rover measures chemical composition of major atmospheric species (CO 2 , N 40 Ar, O and CO) through a dedicated inlet. We report here measurements volume mixing ratios in Gale Crater using SAM quadrupole mass spectrometer, obtained over period nearly 5 years (3 years) from landing. observation spans northern summer MY 31 solar longitude (L S ) 175° spring 34, L = 12°. This work expands upon prior...
Abstract Following K‐Ar dating of a mudstone and sandstone, third sample has been dated by the Curiosity rover exploring Gale Crater. The Mojave 2 mudstone, which contains relatively abundant jarosite, yielded young bulk age 2.57 ± 0.39 Ga (1 σ precision). A two‐step heating experiment was implemented in an effort to resolve ages primary secondary mineralogical components within sample. This technique involves measurement 40 Ar released low‐temperature (500°C) high‐temperature (930°C) steps,...
The temporal evolution of electric breakdown in air at atmospheric pressure by Nd:yttrium–aluminum–garnet Q-switched nanosecond laser pulses was studied from the to millisecond time scale shadowgraphy and interferometry techniques. results were modeled with a gasdynamic code good agreement. It possible simultaneously model whole plasma, shock wave, hot core air. wave velocity determined be ⩾60 km s−1 20 ns. plasma temperature found reach about 1.7×104 K 1 μs &lt;103 100 μs. This letter...