Identification of Chlorobenzene in the Viking Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer Data Sets: Reanalysis of Viking Mission Data Consistent With Aromatic Organic Compounds on Mars

On the ability of the Viking gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to detect organic matter.

A recent paper by Navarro-Gonzalez et al. [Navarro-Gonzalez R, Navarro KF, de la Rosa J, Iniguez E, Molina P, Miranda LD, Morales P, Cienfuegos E, Coll P, Raulin F, et al. (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:16089-16094] claims to show that the Viking GCMS (gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer) experiment, which carried out a search for organic matter at the surface of Mars in 1976, "may have been...

The first viking mission to Mars.

Convective Vortices on Mars: A Reanalysis of Viking

Convective Vortices on Mars: a Reanalysis of Viking Lander

Introduction: On 7 August 1976 the Viking 2 lander touched down at Utopia Planitia, Mars. Both Viking lander’s primary aim was to look for the presence of organic life on the surface of Mars. The lander also had a comprehensive meteorological package to monitor the martian conditions. The meteorological package included pressure, temperature, and wind sensors, enabling the landers to perform th...

Detection of Metabolically Produced Labeled Gas: The Viking Mars Lander

A qualitative, nonspecific method will test for life on Mars in 1976 by supplying radioactive substrates to samples of the planetary surface material. If microorganisms are present, they may assimilate one or more of the simple labeled compounds and produce radioactive gas. The compounds have been selected on the basis of biological theory and terrestrial results. The measurement of radioactive...