Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The Mars oxidant experiment (MOx) for Mars '96.

C P McKay1, F J Grunthaner, A L Lane

  • 1Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.

Planetary and Space Science
|September 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Time-lapse image analysis reveals trigger-dependent differences in ASC speck lifetime in the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Testing the NASA BioSentinel Pixel Dosimeter Using Gamma-ray and Neutron Sources at the LLNL Calibration Lab.

Health physics·2022
Same author

Novel Antarctic yeast adapts to cold by switching energy metabolism and increasing small RNA synthesis.

The ISME journal·2021
Same author

Mars Extant Life: What's Next? Conference Report.

Astrobiology·2020
Same author

Fabrication and characterisation of spin coated oxidised PMMA to provide a robust surface for on-chip assays.

Journal of materials chemistry. B·2020
Same author

Relative Humidity on Mars: New Results From the Phoenix TECP Sensor.

Journal of geophysical research. Planets·2020

The Mars Oxidation (MOx) instrument studied Martian soil reactivity by exposing thin films to the environment. It assessed organic degradation and potential oxidants, informing future Mars exploration instruments.

Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Astrobiology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • The Martian environment's reactivity is crucial for understanding potential habitability and guiding future missions.
  • Previous experiments, like those by Viking, suggested reactive soil components, necessitating further characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the reactive nature of Martian soil.
  • To measure organic degradation rates in the Martian environment.
  • To investigate the cause of reactions observed in Viking biology experiments and assess soil/atmospheric reactivity.

Main Methods:

  • Development of the Mars Oxidation (MOx) instrument.
  • Exposure of various thin films (organics, metals, semiconductors) to the Martian soil and atmosphere.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Monitoring physical and chemical changes using optical reflectance as the primary sensing mode.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated the MOx instrument's capability to monitor material degradation.
    • Laboratory simulations confirmed thin film responses to active oxidants, providing a baseline for Martian conditions.
    • Provided data on the reactivity of Martian soil and atmosphere.

    Conclusions:

    • The MOx instrument successfully characterized Martian soil reactivity and organic degradation.
    • Findings contribute to understanding potential oxidants in Martian soil, relevant to past life detection experiments.
    • The study advanced technologies for future in-situ soil analysis instrumentation on Mars.