The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover has 10 science instruments, and each will be used in the coming weeks and months to help characterise the environment of Mars and determine if the planet ever had the potential for life. The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument is actually a combination of three individual instruments that will investigate the chemistry of the Martian surface. Roughly the size of a microwave oven, SAM will analyse samples taken by the robotic arm, looking for organic and inorganic compounds. MSL Participating Scientist Danny Glavin will be one of the SAM team members trying to determine if the building blocks of life could have survived on the surface of Mars. Read more