Scientific instrument aboard the Phoenix Mars lander
The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) is a scientific instrument aboard the "Phoenix" spacecraft, a Mars lander which landed and operated on the planet Mars in 2008. TEGA's design is based on experience gained from the failed Mars Polar Lander. Soil samples taken from the Martian surface by the robot arm are eventually delivered to the TEGA, where they are heated in an oven to about 1,000 °C. This heat causes the volatile compounds to be given off as gases which are sent to a mass spectrometer for analysis. This spectrometer is adjusted to measure particularly the isotope ratios for oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and heavier gases. Detection values are as low as 10 parts per billion. The Phoenix TEGA has 8 ovens, which are enough for 8 samples.
Major components:
The soil was delivered to TEGA by a robotic arm with a scoop.
References.
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