Low Gravity Anchoring System

Future sampling missions to the Moon, Mars and Asteroids will likely involve drilling and in-situ analysis from mobile robotic platforms in low gravity. Past sampling systems like the MER and MSL Rovers have used tool body preloading as their method of stabilization. This method puts high demands on the deployment device and becomes less viable as gravity decreases, as with an asteroid sampling mission. This proposal involves the development of an effective low-gravity anchoring system which would decrease the preload requirement and peak reaction forces on the deployment device. And in the case of asteroid or comet sampling it would reduce the demand and complexity of the propulsion system. At the end of this Phase 1 proposal a prototype anchor will be developed to TRL 4. A proposed Phase 2 effort would develop a flight-like system and field test it advancing the technology to TRL 6.