Looking for life on Mars
Abstract
A description is presented of the experiments and the equipment employed in the search for life on Mars in connection with the Viking Lander mission. The three experiments conducted were based on different assumptions about the characteristics and functioning of any Martian organisms. Attention is given to the Viking mission sequence, the design of the Viking Lander Biology Instrument, the thermal control system, the requirements to be satisfied by the thermal subsystem, the soil distribution assembly, the approaches used for storing gases and releasing them, a miniature latching solenoid valve, a miniature gas chromatograph, nuclear radiation detectors, and a miniature xenon light source.
- Publication:
-
Quest
- Pub Date:
- November 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977Quest...1...29A
- Keywords:
-
- Biochemistry;
- Extraterrestrial Life;
- Mars (Planet);
- Spacecraft Instruments;
- Viking Lander Spacecraft;
- Gas Chromatography;
- Gas Exchange;
- Pyrolysis;
- Radiation Detectors;
- Soils;
- Solenoid Valves;
- Temperature Control;
- Xenon Lamps;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation