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Thermal and evolved gas analyzerThe Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) instrument will perform calorimetry and evolved gas analysis on soil samples collected from the Martian surface. TEGA is one of three instruments, along with a robotic arm, that form the Mars Volatile and Climate Survey (MVACS) payload. The other instruments are a stereo surface imager, built by Peter Smith of the University of Arizona and a meteorological station, built by JPL. The MVACS lander will investigate a Martian landing site at approximately 70 deg south latitude. Launch will take place from Kennedy Space Center in January, 1999. The TEGA project started in February, 1996. In the intervening 24 months, a flight instrument concept has been designed, prototyped, built as an engineering model and flight model, and tested. The instrument performs laboratory-quality differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC) over the temperature range of Mars ambient to 1400K. Low-temperature volatiles (water and carbon dioxide ices) and the carbonates will be analyzed in this temperature range. Carbonates melt and evolve carbon dioxide at temperatures above 600 C. Evolved oxygen (down to a concentration of 1 ppm) is detected, and C02 and water vapor and the isotopic variations of C02 and water vapor are detected and their concentrations measured. The isotopic composition provides important tests of the theory of solar system formation.
Document ID
19980193169
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Williams, M. S.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
Boynton, W. V.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
James, R. L.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
Verts, W. T.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
Bailey, S. H.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
Hamara, D. K.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ United States)
Date Acquired
August 18, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Fortieth Anniversary: Pioneering the Future
Subject Category
Engineering (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: JPL-960467
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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