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🪐intro to astronomy review

Sample Analysis at Mars

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) is a suite of scientific instruments on the Curiosity rover that analyzes soil and rock samples collected from the surface of Mars. It is designed to study the chemical and mineral composition of these samples, providing valuable insights into the potential for life on the Red Planet.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Curiosity rover is designed to identify organic compounds and measure the isotopic composition of samples, which can provide clues about the potential for past or present life on Mars.
  2. SAM uses a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer to analyze the chemical and mineral composition of soil and rock samples collected by the Curiosity rover.
  3. The SAM suite can also detect the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could be a potential biosignature, indicating the possibility of past or present microbial life.
  4. The Curiosity rover has used the SAM instruments to analyze numerous samples from Gale Crater, providing valuable data about the geological and environmental history of Mars.
  5. The findings from the SAM instruments have helped scientists better understand the habitability of Mars and have contributed to the ongoing search for signs of life on the Red Planet.

Review Questions

  • Explain the purpose and capabilities of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Curiosity rover.
    • The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Curiosity rover is designed to study the chemical and mineral composition of soil and rock samples collected from the surface of Mars. SAM uses a gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, and tunable laser spectrometer to identify organic compounds and measure the isotopic composition of these samples, which can provide valuable insights into the potential for past or present life on the Red Planet. The SAM suite can also detect the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could be a potential biosignature. The findings from the SAM instruments have helped scientists better understand the habitability of Mars and have contributed to the ongoing search for signs of life on the planet.
  • Describe the role of the Curiosity rover and the Mars Science Laboratory mission in the context of the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite.
    • The Curiosity rover is a car-sized Mars rover that is part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which landed on Mars in 2012. The Curiosity rover was designed to explore the Gale Crater, which is believed to have once been home to an ancient lake, making it a prime location to search for signs of past microbial life. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Curiosity rover is a key component of this mission, as it is responsible for analyzing the chemical and mineral composition of soil and rock samples collected from the Martian surface. The data collected by the SAM instruments has helped scientists better understand the habitability of Mars and has contributed to the ongoing search for signs of life on the Red Planet.
  • Evaluate the significance of the findings from the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite in the context of the search for life beyond Earth.
    • The findings from the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Curiosity rover have been instrumental in the ongoing search for life beyond Earth. The SAM instruments have been able to identify organic compounds and measure the isotopic composition of Martian soil and rock samples, providing valuable clues about the potential for past or present life on the Red Planet. Additionally, the SAM suite has detected the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could be a potential biosignature, indicating the possibility of microbial life. These findings have helped scientists better understand the habitability of Mars and have contributed to the overall scientific understanding of the potential for life on other planets. The continued analysis of Martian samples by the SAM instruments is crucial for advancing our knowledge and informing future missions to explore the potential for life beyond Earth.