title: Composition of the atmosphere at the surface of Mars: detection of argon-36 and preliminary analysis.
abstract: The composition of the martian atmosphere was determined by the mass spectrometer in the molecular analysis experiment. The presence of argon and nitrogen was confirmed and a value of 1 to 2750 +/- 500 for the ratio of argon-36 to argon-40 was established. A preliminary interpretation of these results suggests that Mars had a slightly more massive atmosphere in the past, but that much less total outgassing has occurred on Mars than on Earth.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biemann