NOMAD is designed to perform high-sensitivity orbital identification of atmospheric components, concentration and temperature, their sources, loss, and cycles.
[5][6] Measurements are carried out during solar occultation, i.e. the instrument points toward the sunset as the orbiter moves toward or away the dark side of Mars.
[8] NOMAD development and fabrication was carried out by OIP Sensor Systems at Belgium, in collaboration with partners in Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, US, and Canada.
[10] NOMAD will map the composition and distribution of Mars' atmospheric trace gases and isotopes in unprecedented detail.
[8] In addition, NOMAD can detect formaldehyde (H2CO) which is a photochemical product of methane, as well as nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which are potential atmospheric biosignatures.