IGF::OT::IGF NASA HAS PROPOSED SEVERAL MISSIONS TO LAND A CRAFT ON AN ASTEROID AND POTENTIALLY TO RETURN SA…

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IGF::OT::IGF NASA HAS PROPOSED SEVERAL MISSIONS TO LAND A CRAFT ON AN ASTEROID AND POTENTIALLY TO RETURN SAMPLES FROM IT. WHILE LARGE ASTEROIDS IN THE ASTEROID BELT CAN EXHIBIT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRAVITY, MOST NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS ARE SMALL AND SHOW A SURFACE GRAVITY OF LESS THAN 0.1% OF EARTH. LANDING, AND STAYING ON THE SURFACE OF SUCH A SMALL OBJECT IS A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY FOR MANNED MISSIONS. JUST THE MOVEMENT OF AN ASTRONAUT IN AND OUT OF THE LANDER DURING EXCURSIONS WOULD MOST LIKELY DISLODGE THE VEHICLE. SIMILARLY, DRILLING FOR A SAMPLE RETURN MISSION REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO EXERT FORCE ONTO THE SURFACE WITHOUT PUSHING THE LANDER OFF THE SURFACE. A SOLID ANCHORING SYSTEM IS REQUIRED, BUT MADE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE POTENTIALLY RUBBLE-LIKE CONSISTENCY OF SMALL ASTEROIDS, WHICH MAKES CLASSIC MECHANICAL ANCHORING DIFFICULT. ADHERENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (ATI) HAS DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE MATERIALS FOR SPACE USE FOR OVER A DECADE. THESE INCLUDE INFLATABLE STRUCTURES, SELF-SEALING MEMBRANES, COATINGS FOR SATELLITES AND SOLAR SAILS, AND VACUUM-DEPLOYABLE FOAMS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL COMBINE THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO PRODUCE AN ANCHORING SYSTEM THAT DEPLOYS EITHER A STICKY SCREEN THAT CAN ATTACH TO A SOLID ROCK FORMATION OR A FOAM INJECTION ANCHOR THAT CAN BIND A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUBBLE AS AN ANCHORING POINT. THE SYSTEM IS MODULAR, AND A DECISION WHICH ANCHORING METHOD TO USE ONLY NEEDS TO BE MADE ON LOCATION.