NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Some final conclusions and supporting experiments related to the search for organic compounds on the surface of MarsThe Viking molecular analysis experiment has demonstrated the absence (within the detection limits which range from levels of parts per million to below parts per billion) of organic substances in the Martian surface soil at the two Viking landing sites. Laboratory experiments with sterile and nonsterile antarctic samples further demonstrate the capability and reliability of the instrument. The circumstances under which organic components could have escaped detection, such as inaccessibility or extreme thermal stability of organic polymers, are discussed but are found to be unlikely. The inability of the instrument to detect free oxygen evolved from soil samples is pointed out.
Document ID
19800042220
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Biemann, K.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Lavoie, J. M., Jr.
(MIT Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
December 30, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 84
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
80A26390
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-9684
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-22-009-005
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available