PlanetVac Xodiac: Lander Foot Pad Integrated Planetary Sampling System

Abstract

This paper describes the development and testing of the PlanetVac Xodiac sampler by Honeybee Robotics. This iteration of PlanetVac builds on Honeybee's heritage of pneumatic sampling systems and modifies it to function on an Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) test bed vehicle. PlanetVac Xodiac was flown on Masten Space Systems Xodiac vehicle in the Mojave Desert of California. The sampler was designed to withstand the high temperatures emitted by the propulsion system plume, as well as the vibration and impact stresses of takeoff and landing. PlanetVac Xodiac not only survived all three end-to-end field tests, it also collected over three times the expected 100g sample in each trial.