Abstract As part of the Viking mission to Mars in 1975, an automated set of instruments is being built to test for the presence of metabolizing organisms on that planet. Three separate modules are combined in this instrument so that samples of the Martian surface can be subjected to a broad array of experimental conditions so as to measure biological activity. The first, the Pyrolytic Release Module, will expose surface samples to a mixture of $ C^{14} $O and $ C^{14} $$ O_{2} $ in the presence of Martian atmosphere and a light source that simulates the Martian visible spectrum. The assay system is designed to determine the extent of assimilation of CO or $ CO_{2} $ into organic compounds. A small amount of water can be injected into the gas phase during incubation upon command. The Gas Exchange Module will incubate surface samples in a humidified $ CO_{2} $ atmosphere. At specified times, portions of the incubation atmosphere will be analyzed by gas chromatography to detect the release or uptake of $ CO_{2} $ and several additional gases. A rich and diversified source of organic nutrients and trace compounds will be available as further additions to the incubating samples. The Label Release Module will incubate surface samples with a dilute aqueous solution of simple radioactive organic substrates in Martian atmosphere, and the gas phase will be monitored continuously for the release of labeled $ CO_{2} $. Each module, in addition to its gas and nutrient sources, incubation chambers, and detector systems, contains heaters capable of sterilizing surface samples to serve as controls. Since the instrument is designed to operate under Martian conditions and to detect Martian, not terrestrial, organisms, and because the final flight instruments can perform only four assays for each module, formidable problems exist in testing the hardware. The implications of this situation are discussed.
Automated life-detection experiments for the Viking mission to Mars
Origins of life ; 5 , 3-4
1974
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
Lokalklassifikation TIB: | 535/3908/4290 | |
BKL: | 44.71 Verkehrsmedizin |
NTRS | 1971
|NTRS | 1974
The first Viking mission to Mars
NTRS | 1976
|Viking to Mars - The mission strategy
NTRS | 1975
|The 1975 Viking mission to Mars
NTRS | 1975
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