In situ extraction and analysis of volatiles and simple molecules in interplanetary dust particles, contaminants, and silica aerogelResults are presented for the analyses of eight interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) for the volatile elements H, C, N, O, and S and their molecular species, as well as of the volatiles associated with contaminants (i.e., the compounds used during the collection and curation of IDPs), which were carried out using a laser microprobe interfaced with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. It was found that the volatile species from contaminants were always present in the spectra of IDPs. Despite the contamination problems, several indigenous molecular species could be identified, including OH, CO2 or C2H4, C and CS2, CO2 along with CO (possibly indicating the presence of carbonate), H2S, SO, COS, SO2, and CS2. In some cases, the sulfur components can be attributed to aerosols; however, in one of the IDPs, the presence of H2S, SO, COS, and SO2 indicates the possible presence of elemental sulfur.
Document ID
19900046430
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hartmetz, C. P. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Gibson, E. K., Jr. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Blanford, G. E. (Houston, University TX, United States)