In the upcoming experiment, SAM, short for Sample Analysis at Mars, will be used to measure the composition of gases released from a new sample that will be delivered to the oven. This instrument consists of three analytical tools designed for measuring specific types of compounds in the gases such as water, methane, carbon or organic molecules.
The gas chromatograph and quadrupole mass spectrometer will be used to analyze the composition of gases released from the new sample. In contrast, during the previous experiment, EGA (Experimental Gas Analyzer), was used to measure the composition of gases emitted from Mammoth Lakes 2 sample using a tunable laser spectrometer and quadrupole mass spectrometer.
By conducting both experiments, researchers hope to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the materials present in the rock through analyzing its gaseous emissions.