An end-to-end sample acquisition and caching system has been built and tested with capabilities applicable to sample acquisition and caching for a potential 2018 mission to Mars to collect samples for eventual return to Earth. The system provides full capability to robotically perform the end-to-end sample acquisition and caching process including placing a sample tube in a coring bit, attaching the bit to the sampling tool, coring a rock and acquiring the core sample in the tube, transferring the bit to the caching mechanism, removing the sample tube from the bit, sealing the filled sample tube with a plug, and storing the tube in the sample cache canister. This paper describes the hardware and robotic steps for the sample acquisition and caching process.


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    Title :

    Demonstration of autonomous coring and caching for a Mars sample return campaign concept


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2012-03-01


    Size :

    1538969 byte





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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