Data Set Information
DATA_SET_NAME MSL MARS SAMPLE ANALYSIS AT MARS 4 RDR LEVEL 1B V1.0
DATA_SET_ID MSL-M-SAM-4-RDR-L1B-V1.0
NSSDC_DATA_SET_ID
DATA_SET_TERSE_DESCRIPTION
DATA_SET_DESCRIPTION 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 L1B data set represents preliminary processing of science data. Parameters : The SAM L1B data set consists of time series records in science units that have been processed with corrections, e.g., detector deadtime, TCD temperature, noise removal, and saturation and instrument response function. The following types of data may be included, depending on the experiments sequence: QMS GC TLS 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. Details of the processing for L1B are discussed below. Data : The SAM L1B data set is a collection of files containing time- stamped, time-ordered data numbers or text strings. It represents science data for the SAM instrument components that have been processed with initial corrections. Depending on the experiment sequence, the following data types might be included: QMS DATA -------- QMS L1B data consists of time series records taken during the course of the experiment. Data includes m/z and signal versus time. EGA data also includes pyrolysis oven temperature, and GCMS data also includes GC column temperature. QMS signal has been corrected for detector deadtime. GC DATA ------- GC L1B data consists of time series records taken during the course of the experiment. Data include TCD signal versus retention time, pressure, column temperature, and column used. The data have been corrected for TCD temperature and noise removal. TLS DATA -------- TLS L1B data consists of time series records taken during the course of the experiment. It includes direct and harmonic absorption spectra of the sample with filtering. 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.
DATA_SET_RELEASE_DATE 2013-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
START_TIME 2012-09-03T07:16:55.000Z
STOP_TIME N/A (ongoing)
MISSION_NAME MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY
MISSION_START_DATE 2003-10-01T12:00:00.000Z
MISSION_STOP_DATE N/A (ongoing)
TARGET_NAME MARS
TARGET_TYPE PLANET
INSTRUMENT_HOST_ID MSL
INSTRUMENT_NAME SAMPLE ANALYSIS AT MARS
INSTRUMENT_ID SAM
INSTRUMENT_TYPE MASS SPECTROMETER
NODE_NAME Geosciences
ARCHIVE_STATUS
CONFIDENCE_LEVEL_NOTE Confidence Level Overview : SAM L1B data represent results of preliminary processing of SAM science data. Accuracy of the data presented here is dependent on appropriate use of pre-flight calibration data for preliminary corrections. 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 processed data received from the rover during nominal SAM operations. 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 L1B data set is limited by any errors in the L1A data set.
CITATION_DESCRIPTION Mahaffy, P., MSL SAM Level 1B Data, MSL-M-SAM-4-RDR-L1B-V1.0, NASA Planetary Data System, 2013.
ABSTRACT_TEXT The MSL SAM Level 1B data set is generated by applying corrections to Level 1A data, e.g. detector dead time, TCD temperature, noise removal, corrections for saturation and instrument response function.
PRODUCER_FULL_NAME PAUL MAHAFFY
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