The Decadal Survey Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 recommended the development of a plan for effective end-to-end processing of samples returned from Mars. Key technologies were explored, traded, and conceptualized for fully contained sample handling of Mars samples within pristine isolators housed in a high biocontainment Sample Receiving Facility (SRF). These technologies include processes and hardware for both solid sample and head-gas sample removal from the Mars 2020 Returned Sample Tube Assemblies (RSTA), as well as a Secondary Outer Containment Case (SOCC) to provide additional prolonged protection of the sealed sample tubes during processing and storage. Hardware designs and end-to-end storyboards were developed. Full-scale mockups of the tooling were prototyped to evaluate hardware flow. Coupon testing was performed to demonstrate sealing, puncturing, and cutting processes, as well as characterize key design parameters.
Mars Sample Return Sample Handling Technology Development
2023-03-04
3507369 byte
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
NTIS | 2021
|NTRS
|NTRS
|NTRS | 2021
|NTRS
|