SAM, or Sample Analysis at Mars, is a powerful tool used to analyze the composition of gases released from drilled samples when heated in its ovens. SAM consists of three analytical instruments: a gas chromatograph, quadrupole mass spectrometer, and tunable laser spectrometer. Each instrument is designed to measure specific types of compounds in the gases, such as water, methane, carbon, or organic molecules.
In the previous experiment, EGA (Elemental Gas Analyzer) was used to analyze the Mammoth Lakes 2 sample. The composition of gases released was measured using the tunable laser spectrometer and quadrupole mass spectrometer. In the upcoming experiment, a new sample will be delivered to the SAM oven and analyzed using the gas chromatograph and quadrupole mass spectrometer. By conducting both experiments, researchers hope to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the materials present in the rock.