M. G. Trainer
A5007004184- Astro and Planetary Science
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Origins and Evolution of Life
Goddard Space Flight Center
2015-2024
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2024
Planetary Systems (United States)
2024
Johns Hopkins University
2021
University of Washington
2021
Globe University
2021
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2021
Cornell University
2021
Ames Research Center
2021
Southwest Research Institute
2021
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...
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...
Volume mixing and isotope ratios secured with repeated atmospheric measurements taken the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite on Curiosity rover are: carbon dioxide (CO2), 0.960(±0.007); argon-40 ((40)Ar), 0.0193(±0.0001); nitrogen (N2), 0.0189(±0.0003); oxygen, 1.45(±0.09) × 10(-3); monoxide, < 1.0 (40)Ar/(36)Ar, 1.9(±0.3) 10(3). The (40)Ar/N2 ratio is 1.7 times greater (40)Ar/(36)Ar 1.6 lower than values reported by Viking Lander mass spectrometer in 1976, whereas other are generally...
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...
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 NASA’s Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to the surface of Titan in mid-2030s. Dragonfly's science themes include investigation Titan’s prebiotic chemistry, habitability, and potential chemical biosignatures from both water-based “life as we know it” (as might occur interior mantle ocean, cryovolcanic flows, and/or impact melt deposits) “life, but not that use liquid hydrocarbons solvent (within lakes, seas, aquifers). Consideration these solvents simultaneously led...
The Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI) mission described herein has been selected for flight to as part the NASA Discovery Program. DAVINCI will be first incorporate science-driven flybys an instrumented descent sphere into a unified architecture. anticipated scientific outcome new understanding atmosphere, surface, evolutionary path possibly once-habitable planet analog hot terrestrial exoplanets. primary design features preferred launch in...
Recent exploration by the Cassini/Huygens mission has stimulated a great deal of interest in Saturn's moon, Titan. One Titan's most captivating features is thick organic haze layer surrounding believed to be formed from photochemistry high CH(4)/N(2) atmosphere. It been suggested that similar may have on early Earth. Here we report laboratory experiments demonstrate properties likely form through Titan and We used deuterium lamp initiate particle production these simulated atmospheres UV...
Recognizing whether a planet can support life is primary goal of future exoplanet spectral characterization missions, but past research on habitability assessment has largely ignored the vastly different conditions that have existed in our planet's long habitable history. This study presents simulations yet dramatically phase Earth's history, when atmosphere contained Titan-like organic-rich haze. Prior work claimed haze-rich Archean Earth (3.8-2.5 billion years ago) would be frozen due to...
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 The factors contributing to the initial selection of a dune site near Selk impact structure on Titan as first landing for Dragonfly mission are described. These include arrival geometry and aerodynamic/aerothermodynamic considerations, illumination, Earth visibility, well likely presence exposed deposits water-rich material, potentially including materials where molten ice has interacted with organics. Cassini observations summarized interpreted: near-infrared reflectance microwave...
[1] The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Science Laboratory (MSL) measured a atmospheric14N/15N ratio of 173 ± 11 sol 341 mission, agreeing with Viking's measurement 168 17. MSL/SAM value was based Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer measurements an enriched atmospheric sample, CO2 and H2O removed. Doubly ionized nitrogen data m/z 14 14.5 had highest signal/background ratio, results confirmed by 28 29 data. Gases in SNC meteorite glasses have been interpreted as mixtures...
Nitrile incorporation into Titan aerosol accompanying hydrocarbon chemistry is thought to be driven by extreme UV wavelengths (λ<120 nm) or magnetospheric electrons in the outer reaches of atmosphere. Far radiation (120–200 nm), which transmitted down stratosphere Titan, expected affect only and not initiate formation nitrogenated species. We examined chemical properties photochemical produced at far wavelengths, using a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS), allows...
Earth’s atmospheric composition at the time of origin life is not known, but it has often been suggested that chemical transformation reactive species in atmosphere was a significant source prebiotic organic molecules. Experimental and theoretical studies over past half century have shown synthesis can yield molecules such as amino acids nucleobases, these processes are very sensitive to gas energy source. Abiotic more productive reduced atmospheres, yet primitive Earth may reducing earlier...
NASA's Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to the surface of Titan investigate prebiotic chemistry, habitability, and potential presence chemical biosignatures on Saturn's largest moon. One key analytical instruments onboard is Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) that perform detailed analyses atmosphere. The DraMS instrument capable multiple modalities, including Laser Desorption Spectrometry (LDMS), in which primarily seeks characterize low volatility/refractory organic content acquired...
Dragonfly is a relocatable lander that will explore Titan in the mid-2030&#8217;s [1]. It equipped with Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) instrument to investigate chemistry at geologically diverse locations. DraMS&#8217; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) mode organic molecule diversity and look for potential molecular biosignatures surface samples. In this mode, solid samples are thermally volatized or chemically derivatized pyrolysis oven. The evolved components concentrated on...
Recent attempts to resolve the faint young Sun paradox have focused on an early Earth atmosphere with elevated levels of greenhouse gases methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) that could provided adequate warming Earth's surface. On Titan, photolysis CH4 has been shown create a thick haze layer cools its Unlike however, likely contained high amounts CO2 hydrogen (H2). In this work, we examine formation in composed CO2, H2, N2, CH4, CO2/CH4 ratio 10 H2/CO2 up 15. To initiate aerosol...
Saturn's moon Titan has all the ingredients needed to produce "life as we know it." When exposed liquid water, organic molecules analogous those found on a range of biomolecules such amino acids. thus provides natural laboratory for studying products prebiotic chemistry. In this work, examine ideal locales search evidence of, or progression toward, life Titan. We determine that best sites identify biological are deposits impact melt floors large, fresh craters, specifically Sinlap, Selk, and...