The Viking missions to Mars

Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

"In addition, independent of the biology experiments, Viking carried a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) that could measure the composition and abundance of organic compounds in the martian soil. (It should be noted that organic is a chemical term simply meaning "carbon-containing", and does not require the presence of life, although all life on Earth does contain carbon.)" (http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/MarsEssy/life/life.htm)

http://www.nirgal.net/schemas/viking_gcms.html

Result: No organics detected.

Back Next

Back to Lecture 23 outline

Back to lectures page

Back to main course page