Project:	Mars Sample Tube Handling, Opening, and Core Extraction Technology Development for a Sample Receiving Facility (JPL AO No. 15512)
Disciplines:	Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering
Mentor:	Paulo Younse, (JPL), Paulo.J.Younse@jpl.nasa.gov, Phone: (818) 726-5814
Background:	One of the goals of the Mars 2020 (M2020) rover is to collect rock cores and regolith samples from the surface of Mars and encapsulate and seal them in Sample Tubes. Followup missions will retrieve these sample tubes and return them to Earth. The need for key technologies for pristine sample handling performed in double-walled isolation cabinets in a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) have been identified. Pristine handling processes and hardware including sample removal from tubes, sorting/splitting and packaging as well as head-gas removal are desired to be demonstrated to TRL-6 by SRF PDR (end of 2026).
Description:	The project will consist of developing tools, techniques, and processes to handle, open, and extract Martian samples from the Mars 2020 sample tubes, reporting on study results, project implementation planning, and making recommendations for future development.
References:	https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10115855
Student Requirements:	Mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, project management, robotics, modeling and simulation, Solidworks, Cameo Systems Modeler, MS Project
Location / Safety:	Project building and/or room locations: . Student will need special safety training: .
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF@JPL    Caltech students only  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.