Sampling Tools for the Planet Mars

Specially designed tools for the European Space Agency

A project team, with members from the PolyU and the Open University, UK, has been contracted by the European Space Agency to build the Lander called “Beagle 2” for their 2003 Mars Express: Mission to the planet Mars. The team members from the PolyU are responsible for the design and manufacture of all the sample acquisition tools for the “Beagle 2” to search for life on Mars.

The tools are designed to drill into Mars to acquire earth and rock samples.

Mars Express: Mission to the planet Mars

Grinder

Lander

Special Features and Advantages

Optimum function to weight ratio
Tolerance to interplanetary environment
Ability to prevent cold welding, a typical occurrence on interplanetary expeditions
Ability to sustain high shock

Applications

To core into hard rocks and retrieve rock fragments from the depth of the rock for analysis

Award

Gold Award, Brussels Eureka 2001 – the 50th World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technology (November 2001)

Principal Investigator

Prof. K.L.YUNG, Mr C.H.YU
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Industrial Centre

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