Asteroid Sampling Mechanism for MUSES-C
Abstract
An asteroid mission of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) is devoted to acquiring a sample on an asteroid surface and then returning it to the Earth. Its sampling system, named 'sampler', is a unique idea and is a subsystem of the MUSES-C spacecraft. Sampler has many engineering challenges, but with the final purpose of the sampling being scientific, the sampler structures and mechanisms have been developed under the scientific requirements and restrictions. The sample should not be contaminated by artificial matter or natural matter originated on the Earth during manufacturing, integration, cruising, sampling, reentry, and recovery. The sampler has three projectors, and each projector fires a projectile in order to fragment an asteroid surface into small pieces. The sample is stored in a container and it is retrieved using a reentry capsule. The sampler involves many linear and rotational sliding mechanisms, and they should work in a dusty or crunchy environment after a long cruise period in a space environment. The function of each mechanism has been verified by ground tests. Sliding tests in a sandy and crunchy environment verified the function and the limitations of the sampler, and high-frequency shock tests verified that the sample container is airtight during the reentry.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the 36th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium
- Pub Date:
- April 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002aeme.symp....1H
- Keywords:
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- Asteroid Missions;
- Samplers;
- Sample Return Missions;
- Contamination;
- Projectiles;
- Astrophysics