Need To Know: Sample Analysis at Mars Findings

  • Released Tuesday, December 16, 2014
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NASA scientist Danny Glavin discusses the most recent findings by the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite (SAM). This includes variations in methane levels in the atmosphere and the first definitive detection of organic molecules on the Red Planet.

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There’s big news coming out of the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite (SAM) on NASA’s Curiosity rover. For the first time, organic matter has definitively been detected on Mars. In addition to finding organic compounds in rocks, SAM has also detected sharp increases and decreases in methane levels in the atmosphere. MSL participating scientist, Danny Glavin, explains these findings and what they tell us about our search for life on the Red Planet.

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Tuesday, December 16, 2014.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:50 PM EDT.

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  • Need To Know: Sample Analysis at Mars Findings (ID: 2014104)
    Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 5:00AM
    Produced by - Marit Jentoft-Nilsen (RSIS)