Detections of biologically-relevant compounds in molecular clouds have shown that organic molecules can form easily in space, with subsequent delivery to Earth, or other planets, by comets, meteorites, asteroids, and interplanetary dust particles.  Over 200 of these molecules have been detected in situ by various investigators, and others have modeled how these materials are formed and incorporated into interstellar ice, grain mantles and comets. Glycolaldehyde (GLA) and dihydroxyacetone (DHA) are simple sugars that have been detected in situ and in the Murchison and Murray meteorites, respectively.  Experiments involving simulated terrestrial impacts were performed on GLA and DHA using the NASA Johnson Space Center flat plate accelerator.  Results from analyses of impacted GLA and DHA in the presence of catalytically active Montmorillonite clay using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry will be presented.  Subsequently, conclusions about the nature of reactions occurring under these conditions will be discussed.

Analysis of glycolaldehyde and dihydroxyacetone after simulated terrestrial impact experiments

245th National Meeting (2013)

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