The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability

J. C. Stern; B. Sutter; C. P. McKay; R. Navarro-Gonzalez; C. Freissinet; P. G. Conrad; P. R. Mahaffy; P. D. Archer; D. W. Ming; P. B. Niles; M. -P. Zorzano; F. J. Martin-Torres; MSL Science Team

The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability

J. C. Stern^* (Corresponding Author), B. Sutter, C. P. McKay, R. Navarro-Gonzalez, C. Freissinet, P. G. Conrad, P. R. Mahaffy, P. D. Archer, D. W. Ming, P. B. Niles, M. -P. Zorzano, F. J. Martin-Torres, MSL Science Team

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to conference › Unpublished paper › peer-review

Abstract

Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and the potential development of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover detected evolved nitric oxide (NO) gas during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled mudstone acquired in Gale Crater. The detection of NO suggests an indigenous source of fixed N, and may indicate a mineralogical sink for atmospheric N2 in the form of nitrate. The ratio of nitrate to oxychlorine species (e.g. perchlorate) may provide insight into the extent of development of a nitrogen cycle on Mars.

Original language	English
Number of pages	2
Publication status	Published - Mar 2015
Event	46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference - The Woodlands, United States Duration: 16 Mar 2015 → 20 Mar 2015 https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

Conference

Conference	46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	The Woodlands
Period	16/03/15 → 20/03/15
Internet address	https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/

Bibliographical note

LPI Contribution No. 1832, p.2590e

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https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015LPI....46.2590SLicence: Unspecified

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Stern, J. C., Sutter, B., McKay, C. P., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Freissinet, C., Conrad, P. G., Mahaffy, P. R., Archer, P. D., Ming, D. W., Niles, P. B., Zorzano, M. .-P., Martin-Torres, F. J., & MSL Science Team (2015). The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability. Paper presented at 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, United States. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015LPI....46.2590S

Stern, JC, Sutter, B, McKay, CP, Navarro-Gonzalez, R, Freissinet, C, Conrad, PG, Mahaffy, PR, Archer, PD, Ming, DW, Niles, PB, Zorzano, M-P , Martin-Torres, FJ & MSL Science Team 2015, 'The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability', Paper presented at 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, United States, 16/03/15 - 20/03/15. <https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015LPI....46.2590S>

@conference{5adec4898cfa4fb38b7944181580bb98,

title = "The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability",

abstract = "Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and the potential development of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover detected evolved nitric oxide (NO) gas during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled mudstone acquired in Gale Crater. The detection of NO suggests an indigenous source of fixed N, and may indicate a mineralogical sink for atmospheric N2 in the form of nitrate. The ratio of nitrate to oxychlorine species (e.g. perchlorate) may provide insight into the extent of development of a nitrogen cycle on Mars. ",

author = "Stern, {J. C.} and B. Sutter and McKay, {C. P.} and R. Navarro-Gonzalez and C. Freissinet and Conrad, {P. G.} and Mahaffy, {P. R.} and Archer, {P. D.} and Ming, {D. W.} and Niles, {P. B.} and Zorzano, {M. -P.} and Martin-Torres, {F. J.} and {MSL Science Team}",

note = "LPI Contribution No. 1832, p.2590e; 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference ; Conference date: 16-03-2015 Through 20-03-2015",

year = "2015",

month = mar,

language = "English",

url = "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/",

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TY - CONF

T1 - The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability

AU - Stern, J. C.

AU - Sutter, B.

AU - McKay, C. P.

AU - Navarro-Gonzalez, R.

AU - Freissinet, C.

AU - Conrad, P. G.

AU - Mahaffy, P. R.

AU - Archer, P. D.

AU - Ming, D. W.

AU - Niles, P. B.

AU - Zorzano, M. -P.

AU - Martin-Torres, F. J.

AU - MSL Science Team

N1 - LPI Contribution No. 1832, p.2590e

PY - 2015/3

Y1 - 2015/3

N2 - Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and the potential development of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover detected evolved nitric oxide (NO) gas during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled mudstone acquired in Gale Crater. The detection of NO suggests an indigenous source of fixed N, and may indicate a mineralogical sink for atmospheric N2 in the form of nitrate. The ratio of nitrate to oxychlorine species (e.g. perchlorate) may provide insight into the extent of development of a nitrogen cycle on Mars.

AB - Discovery of indigenous martian nitrogen in Mars surface materials has important implications for habitability and the potential development of a nitrogen cycle at some point in martian history. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity Rover detected evolved nitric oxide (NO) gas during pyrolysis of scooped aeolian sediments and drilled mudstone acquired in Gale Crater. The detection of NO suggests an indigenous source of fixed N, and may indicate a mineralogical sink for atmospheric N2 in the form of nitrate. The ratio of nitrate to oxychlorine species (e.g. perchlorate) may provide insight into the extent of development of a nitrogen cycle on Mars.

UR - https://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20160005741/page/n1/mode/2up

M3 - Unpublished paper

T2 - 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference

Y2 - 16 March 2015 through 20 March 2015

ER -

The Nitrate/Perchlorate Ratio on Mars as an Indicator for Habitability

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Conference

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