We've put a bit of powdered rock into the oven of SAM,
将少量岩石粉末放入分析仪的烤炉中
and we slowly heat it up from ambient temperature
由环境温度开始
to very hot temperature, about 1,000 degrees centigrade.
逐渐加热到大概一千摄氏度的高温
And as the sample is heated up,
当样本被加热时
at different temperatures
在不同温度下
it releases different simple gases or complex gases,
它会释放出某种或多种气体
and that helps us
这可以帮助我们
determine what the mineralogy,
确定岩石的成分
what the mineral composition of the rock is.
确定岩石的化学组成
SAM can look for the chemical signatures of water
火星样本分析仪可以识别水的化学特征
and it can also detect organic compounds
也能检测作为生命基石的
the building blocks of life.
有机化合物
Our very first job on getting to Mars
到达火星最重要的目的
will be to understand
就是去弄清
if there are organic compounds that we can even detect.
我们是否可以探测到有机化合物
Mars is a very harsh environment.
火星上的环境极其恶劣
Ultraviolet radiation penetrates right down to the surface
由于大气比地球稀薄
because there is less of an atmosphere than on Earth.
紫外线直接穿透大气 照射在地表
The same is true for very energetic cosmic radiation
同样 大气也无法阻挡高能宇宙射线
that pounds in and really has the potential to destroy
它也会直射表面 并且很可能破坏
fragile compounds that are very close to the surface.
火星地表附近脆弱的化合物

重点解释：

1.a bit of 一点儿的

例句：It was a bit of a bore, wasn't it?
这有点叫人厌烦，不是吗?

2.heat up 加热

例句：The engine will soon heat up.
引擎很快会变热。

3.close to 接近于

例句：David's house is quite close to the Global Theater.
大卫的家离环球剧院很近。