Sample Return Systems for Extreme Environments

The analysis of the hard impact penetrator systems for sample return indicates that all components involved can meet the necessary requirement to produce substantial new capabilities for sample return missions. The work includes the analysis of the overall mission requirements, the development of new energy absorbing material, tether analysis and penetrator design. This work culminated in the design and building of a prototype and its initial field testing in a dry lake bed in Black Rock, Nevada. The modeling suggests that survivability of sample return system for impacts up to speeds of about 1 km/s is possible and that the sample can be pulled from the surface with existing tether technology. The field tests have demonstrated full survivability at 150 m/s and a means for field test evaluation at higher speeds has been demonstrated, along with the demonstration of sample collection through the feedports and into the main chamber. The full system design indicates that major savings can be accomplished with multiple samples being taken in any single mission, leading to redundancy. This technology will be able for the first time to pull samples of the order of a few kg from depths of a few meters which could greatly enhance our knowledge of solar system objects and the resources therein. Moreover, it offers the opportunity to take multiple samples (from either multiple objects or from multiple areas of a few objects) at little extra cost so that it will provide much greater flexibility and greatly enhance the science return for any given mission.