Data Set Overview
  =================
    The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite in the MSL Analytical 
    Laboratory is designed to address the present and past 
    habilitability of Mars by exploring molecular and elemental 
    chemistry relevant to life. SAM addresses carbon chemistry through 
    a search for organic compounds, the chemical state of light elements 
    other than carbon, and isotopic tracers of planetary change.
    
    SAM is a suite of three instruments: a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer 
    (QMS), a Gas Chromatograph (GC), and a Tunable Laser Spectrometer 
    (TLS). The QMS and the GC can operate tpgether in a GCMS mode for 
    separation (GC) and definitive identification (QMS) or organic 
    compounds. The mass range of the QMS is 2-535 Da. The TLS obtains 
    precise isotope ratios for C and O in carbon dioxide and H and O in 
    water. It also measures trace levels of methane and its carbon 
    isotope ratio.

    The three SAM instruments are supported by a sample manipulation 
    system (SMS) and a Chemical Separation and Processing Laboratory 
    (CSPL) that includes high conductance and micro valves, gas 
    manifolds with heaters and temperature monitors, chemical and 
    mechanical pumps, carrier gas reservoirs and regulators, pressure 
    monitors, pyrolysis ovens, and chemical scrubbers and getters. The 
    Mars atmosphere is sampled by CSPL valve and pump manipulations 
    that introduce an appropriate amount of gas through an inlet tube 
    to the SAM instruments. 
    
    The solid phase materials are sampled by transporting finely-
    sieved materials to one of 74 SMS sample cups that can then be 
    inserted into a SAM oven and thermally processed for release of  
    volatiles.

    The SAM L0 data set is the lowest level of data avilable for
    SAM. It represents unpacking of telemetry into data numbers as
    raw ADC values or counts and verification of data integrity.
    
  
    
  Parameters
  ==========
    The SAM L0 data set may contain several types of data, depending
    on the experiment sequence that it describes. The following
    types of data may be included:

    MSG DATA
    HK DATA
    QMS DATA
    GC DATA
    TLS DATA

  
  Processing
  ==========
    Raw data is delivered to the SAM team as Experiment Data Record
    (EDR) products generated by the Multi-mission Image Processing
    Laboratory (MIPL) at JPL under the Operations Products
    Generation Subsystem (POGS), using the telemetry processing
    software MSLEdrGen. Products are created by MIPL during 
    operations from: a) MPCS data products, b) SPICE kernels, and
    c) a meta-data database. They are created on the MSL Operations
    Data Store (ODS) and then deposited intoMIPL's File Exchange
    Interface (FEI) for electronic distribution to remote sites/
    users via a secure subscription protocol. The EDR product is
    considered NASA packet-level data. SAM EDR data products are 
    stored at the PDS for safekeeping but are not formally archived
    in PDS. The SAM team converts raw data to a more manageable
    format, which is stored at PDS as NASA level 0 data. Higher
    level RDR products represent the results of further data
    manipulation and interpretation.
  
  Data
  ====
    The SAM L0 data is composed of a set of files containing time-
    stamped, time-ordered data numbers or text strings. It 
    represents unpacking of telemetry into data numbers as raw ADC
    values or counts. There are separate files for housekeeping and
    QMS, TLS, and GC science data. It may contain the following 
    types of data, depending on the experiment sequence:

    MSG DATA
    --------
      The message log file contains time series records of notes
      pertaining to the experiment execution. The message log data
      are messages returned from SAM.

    HK DATA
    -------
      Housekeeping data are time series records taken during the
      course of the experiment. Data files are labeled with the 
      system parameter name and may consist of the following data
      types:

      CDH high-speed
      CDH low-speed
      Flight software
      GC
      Gas processing system
      Miscellaneous
      Motor controller
      QMS
      TLS
      General housekeeping

    QMS DATA
    --------
      QMS L0 data consists of time series records taken during the
      course of the experiment. It includes raw data for DAC ID, DAC
      value, pulse counter, and RF counter.


    GC DATA
    -------
      GC L0 data consists of time series records taken during the
      course of the experiment. It includes raw data for TCD gain
      and offset.

    TLS DATA
    --------
      TLS L0 data consists of time series records taken during the
      course of the experiment. It includes raw ADC values for 
      direct and harmonic absorption spectra for the sample and
      reference cell.
      
 
  
  Ancillary Data
  ==============
    No ancillary data are provided.
  
  
  Coordinate System
  =================
    Several coordinate systems are used by the MSL project. A
    detailed description can be found in the SAM RDR SIS document
    found in the Documents directory.
  
  
  Software
  ========
    No SAM specific software is provided with this data set. All
    products are ASCII text, viewable in any text editor. TABLE
    and SPREADSHEET products are also suitable for use in
    spreadsheet and database management programs.

Confidence Level Overview
  =========================
    SAM L0 data are the least processed, most primitive data set
    released for SAM. Data presented here have been verified for 
    integrity and are an accurate representation of SAM data as
    received from the rover.
  
  
  Review
  ======
    The SAM RDR was reviewed internally by the SAM team prior
    to release to the PDS. PDS also performed an external peer
    review of the SAM RDR.
  
  
  Data Coverage and Quality
  =========================
    Data reported are the minimally processed data received
    from the rover during nominal SAM operations. Damaged
    telemetry packets are sequestered upon receipt from the
    rover and are not included in this delivery. This product
    contains all data received from the rover for a single SAM
    experiment sequence. If gaps exist in the telemetry from
    the rover, data are lost.
  
  
  Limitations
  ===========
    The L0 data set limited by any errors in the EDR data product.