 | Inge Loes "Loesje" ten Kate |
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Leiden Observatory, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333CA, Leiden, the Netherlands office 542, phone: +31 (0)71 527 5812 Gorlaeus Laboratory, Einsteinweg 55, 2300RA, Leiden, the Netherlands lab 3.61, phone: +31 (0)71 527 4446, office 3.32, phone: +31 (0)71 527 527 4541 e-mail: tenkate@strw.leidenuniv.nl |
 | Marnix Gymnasium, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Master degree in Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands |
 | Complex organics on Mars |
The search for organic molecules and traces of life on Mars is the future perspective
of several missions to Mars. In order to know what those mission should be looking
for, laboratory experiments under simulated Mars conditions are necessary. Especially
since the Viking mission did not find any tracers of organic compounds in the
Martian soil. In this context an experimental programme is developed at the
European Space Research and Technology Centre of ESA (ESTEC) and at Leiden University.
The research I perform for my PhD thesis, investigates the most abundant organic
molecules identified in solar system bodies and beyond, which may have been
exogenously delivered to the Martian surface. The organic molecules will be
subjected to simulated Martian atmospheres and soil analogues.
An atmospheric simulation chamber, located at ESTEC, NL, equipped with a solar
simulator will be used to collect data on the combined effects of UV photo processing,
atmospheric conditions and the presence/absence of oxidizing agents on organic
molecules. All those described effects will be studied independently and in
combination in order to get insight in the individual processes and their interactions
on organics in the Martian soil. The chamber has a possibility of thermal and
pressure control. A window allows the attachment of UV lamps and filters. Samples
will be introduced into the chamber on a specially designed tray. Sample trays
will be filled with organic molecules embedded in soil analogues, either porous
or compact. During the simulation in situ measurements are taken in the chamber,
using a GCMS. Samples will be retrieved with various derivatization techniques.
Thereafter the probes are subjected to various analyses, such as HPLC, spectroscopy,
GC, LDMS and TOF-SIMS.
The results of those simulations are part of a ground support experiment programme for future Mars missions.