Comparison of data analysis and experimental techniques for analysis of planetary atmospheres

This thesis presents results of four experiments which develop methods of some critical elements for the detection of life, developed for possible use in NASA missions to help scientists gain insight into the origin of Earth.;The second experiment monitored dynamic changes of hydrocarbon mixtures simulating probe descent through a planetary atmosphere. The limit of accuracy is a dilution of 100.00 to 0.35 ppm in 18.0 minutes.;The third experiment developed a method of hydrocarbon analysis at sub-atmospheric pressures for use on Titan. The detection limit is 9.7 ppm at 3.0 torr.;The fourth experiment detected water vapor in carbon dioxide by selective absorption for possible use on Mars with a detection limit of 56.7 ppm.;The first experiment used tunable diode laser spectroscopy, operated at the vapor pressure of water, to detect and identify two water vapor lines in a Martian atmosphere.