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The Investigation of Perchlorate/Iron Phase Mixtures as A Possible Source of Oxygen Detected by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument in Gale Crater, MarsThe Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument onboard the Curiosity rover detected O2 and HCl gas releases from the Rocknest (RN) eolian bedform and the John Klein (JK) and Cumberland (CB) drill hole materials in Gale Crater. Chlorinated hydrocarbons have also been detected by the SAM quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GCMS). These detections along with the detection of perchlorate (ClO4-) by the Mars Phoenix Lander's Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL) suggesting perchlorate is a possible candidate for evolved O2 and chlorine species. Laboratory thermal analysis of individual per-chlorates has yet to provide an unequivocal temperature match to the SAM O2 and HCl release data. These detections along with the detection of perchlorate (ClO4-) by the Mars Phoenix Lander's Wet Chemistry Laboratory suggested perchlorate is a possible candidate for evolved O2 and chlorine species. Laboratory thermal analysis of pure perchlorates has yet to provide an unequivocal temperature match to the SAM O2 and HCl release data. Analog laboratory analysis of iron mineralogy detected in Gale materials that was physically mixed with Ca- and Mg-perchlorate has been shown to catalyze lower O2 release temperatures and approach some SAM O2 release data. Instead of physical mixtures used in previous work, the work presented here utilized perchlorate solutions added to Fe phases. This technique allowed for perchlorate to come in closer contact with the Fe-phase and may more closely mimic Mars conditions where humidity can increase enough to cause deliquescence of the highly hygroscopic perchlorate phases. The objective of this work is to: 1) Utilize a laboratory SAM analog instrument to evaluate the O2 release temperatures from Mg- and Ca-perchlorates solutions applied to Fephases detetected in Gale Crate; and 2) Determine if perchlorate solutions can provide improved matches with the SAM O2 temperature release profiles.
Document ID
20150001920
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Abstract
Authors
Sutter, B.
(Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Heil, E.
(Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Morris, R. V.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Archer, P. D.
(Jacobs Technology, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Ming, D. W.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Niles, P. B.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Eigenbrode, J. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Franz, H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Freissinet C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Glavin, D. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McAdam, A. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mahaffy, P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Martin-Torres, F. Javier
(Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra Granada, Spain)
Navarro-Gonzalez, R.
(Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Mexico City, Mexico)
Paz-Zorzano, Maria
(Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial Madrid, Spain)
Stern, J. C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McKay, C. P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
February 23, 2015
Publication Date
March 16, 2015
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-32773
Report Number: JSC-CN-32773
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 16, 2015
End Date: March 20, 2015
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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