THE GAS-CHROMATOGRAPH MASS-SPECTROMETER(GC-MS),AN INSTRUMENT FOR IN-SITU MEASUREMENTS OF VOLATILES IN PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES AND LITHOSPHERES

摘要

Coupled gas-chromatography mass spectrometry(GC- MS)is a powerful tool for terrestrial trace analysis and has been used for space applications,too.In the following the special requirements in view of the Pasteur payload of the ESA Exo-Mars mission of the Aurora programme are highlighted and technical solutions for the most critical points are described.Sample preparation and vacuum management are considered to be the subjects which require most attention.The paper is based on the Martian Organic Residue Experiment (MORE)proposal for the Pasteur payload.