NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Comet Halley as an aggregate of interstellar dust and further evidence for the photochemical formation of organics in the interstellar mediumPhotolysis of mixtures of CO:NH3:H2O at 12 K results in the formation of an organic residue which is not volatile in high vacuum at room temperature. Analysis of this fraction by GC-MS resulted in the detection of C2-C3 hydroxy acids and hydroxy amides, glycerol, urea, glycine, hexamethylene tetramine, formamidine and ethanolamine. Use of isotopically labeled gases made it possible to establish that the observed products were not contaminants. The reaction pathways for the formation of these products were determined from the position of the isotopic labels in the mass spectral fragments. The significance of these findings to the composition of comets and the origins of life is discussed.
Document ID
19930033827
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Briggs, R.
(New York State Department of Health Albany, United States)
Ertem, G.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Ferris, J. P.
(Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. Troy, NY, United States)
Greenberg, J. M.
(Leiden State Univ. Netherlands)
Mccain, P. J.
(Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. Troy, NY, United States)
Mendoza-Gomez, C. X.
(Leiden State Univ. Netherlands)
Schutte, W.
(Leiden State Univ., Netherlands; NASA, Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0169-6149
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
93A17824
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-018-148
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

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