Future Mars sample return missions would require technology to robotically acquire and cache multiple samples for delivery back to Earth. Anticipating the need to acquire samples and prevent cross-contamination, individual detachable scoops and caching boxes were designed for use with a rover. Four sample scoop/cache assemblies were mounted onto the back of Mars technology rover Sample Return Rover 2000 (SRR2K) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A robotic arm on the rover was used to open and close the cache boxes. A clamping mechanism designed for the end effector of the robotic arm attached and detached individual scoops and performed the scooping for sample collection. The spring-loaded cache boxes had a labyrinth seal incorporated into the lid to provide a bio-barrier from external contaminants. The sample collection and caching system was tested, along with a cleaning protocol, to ensure cleanliness of the samples for life-detection studies August 2008 in Svalbard, Norway during the Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition (AMASE).
Sample acquisition and caching using detachable scoops for mars sample return
2009-03-01
4938515 byte
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English