Application of Pneumatics in Delivering Samples to Instruments on Planetary Missions

Abstract

Traditional sample acquisition, transfer and capture approaches rely on mechanical methods (e.g. drill or a scoop) to acquire a sample, mechanical methods (e.g. robotic arm) to transfer the sample and gravity to capture the sample inside an instrument or a sample return container. This approach has some limitations: because of reliance on gravity, it is only suited to materials with no or little cohesion. Because of the sample transfer requiring mechanical system, the instrument or sample return container need to be easily accessible. Pneumatic based systems solve these problems because the pneumatic force can exceed the gravitational force and the sample delivery tubing can be routed around other spacecraft elements, making instrument or sample return container placement irrelevant to the sampling system. This paper presents background to pneumatic system applied to planetary missions and provides examples how this could be accomplished on planetary bodies with significant atmosphere (Venus and Titan) and on airless bodies (the Moon, Europa, Ceres).