The technology of lunar regolith environment construction on Earth

Zhang, Tao; Chao, Chaoyue; Yao, Zhixiao; Xu, Kun; Zhang, Wuxiang; Ding, Xuhua; Liu, Shuting; Zhao, Zen; An, Yinghe; Wang, Bing; Yu, Shuangfei; Wang, Bin; Chen, Haowen

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.08.039

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The lunar regolith simulant used for our laboratory tests is specially fabricated for the subsurface drilling verification of the Chang'E 5 mission. A detailed introduction about the fabrication and preparation process and a detailed comparison with the samples from American Apollo missions are given in our previously published paper (Zhang et al, 2021). Some images of regolith particles with different sizes are shown in Figure 8.…”

Section: Laboratory Tests and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the aforementioned reasons, it is necessary to develop a regolith environment simulator whose function is to simulate a thermal-vacuum regolith environment close to the lunar surface sampling environment (Kleinhenz & Wilkinson, 2014). To test the drilling sampler with lunar analogue sites, a regolith environment simulator is essential, which is detailed in our previous publications (Zhang et al, , 2021. Here, we do not intend to introduce the design and development details of the simulator because this study focuses on the robotic drilling tests.…”

Section: Regolith Environment Simulatormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(3) Vacuum measurement: Lunar regolith simulant is a porous and particulate material that is extremely difficult to be degassed. Our previous work shows that the outgassing rate of regolith simulant is at least two orders higher than traditional materials, such as rubber and plastic, not to mention well-polished stainless steel used for vacuum chambers (Zhang et al, 2021). In designing the test-rig, vacuum gauges (TamaGawa PPG800K) are mounted both on the chamber and inside the regolith to monitor the air pressure of the regolith environment.…”

Section: Robotic Drilling Testbedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Robotic drilling tests in simulated lunar regolith environment

Zhang

et al. 2021

Journal of Field Robotics

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A deep extraterrestrial drilling mission potentially adds a new level of complexity, and it is crucial to understand the associated challenges. To cope with China'sChang'E 5 mission to return subsurface regolith samples from the Moon, a series of laboratory tests were performed to validate the lunar robotic drilling from 2015 to 2018. The tests took place in a simulated thermal-vacuum regolith environment, a highly relevant lunar analog site. Force and temperature sensors were integrated into a 2-m class dry auger coring drill to assess the mechanical and thermophysical status of the sampling process. The operation of the entire testing system was automated, covering regolith penetration and data collection and storage. The science team used sensing data to characterize the subsurface geologic strata, assess the conditions of the drilling robot, and direct the sampling strategy. This experiment represents an essential first step in understanding the technology and operational requirements for lunar drilling and sampling mission. Many laboratory tests have helped guide the design and implementation of the highly successful lunar regolith-sampling task in the Chang'E 5 mission. This paper documents the experimental system design, highlighting some critical design criteria and design tradeoffs. It also discusses the results of laboratory testing and lists some of the key technological lessons learned.

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Section: Laboratory Tests and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Regolith Environment Simulatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Robotic Drilling Testbedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Robotic drilling tests in simulated lunar regolith environment

Zhang

et al. 2021

Journal of Field Robotics

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“…The mixed LRS with mass Δm i (i = 4 in the tests) was filled in the cylindrical regolith container, and the upper end was covered with a dust-proof plastic film to restrain the rising dust. For experiments in the vacuum chamber, a specially designed container with 30-mm holes on the side and bottom was used to facilitate vacuum pumping, and multilayer fine steel meshes were used to prevent regolith particle leakage (Zhang et al, 2019a(Zhang et al, , 2021b. The container was mounted on a three-dimensional vibration platform that first vibrated in the vertical direction and then in two horizontal directions (left-to-right and front-to-rear) simultaneously.…”

Section: Lunar Regolith Simulantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Robotic drilling for the Chinese Chang’E 5 lunar sample-return mission

Zhang

Pang

Zeng

et al. 2023

The International Journal of Robotics Research

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On December 2, 2020, a 2-m class robotic drill onboard the Chinese Chang’E 5 lunar lander successfully penetrated 1 m into the lunar regolith and collected 259.72 g of samples. This paper presents the design and development, terrestrial tests, and lunar sampling results of the robotic drill. First, the system design of the robotic drill, including its engineering objectives, drill configuration, drilling and coring methods, and rotational speed determination, was studied. Subsequently, a control strategy was proposed to address the geological uncertainty and complexity of the lunar surface. Terrestrial tests were conducted to assess the sampling performance of the robotic drill under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions. Finally, the results of drilling on the lunar surface were obtained, and the complex geological conditions encountered were analyzed. The success of the Chinese Chang’E 5 lunar sample-return mission demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed robotic drill. This study can serve as an important reference for future extraterrestrial robotic regolith-sampling missions.

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“…The characterization of the thermophysical properties of regoliths is one key measurement in planetary exploration [1][2][3][4]. This characterization can be made in situ, typically using an insertion mechanism or drilling [5,6], which can sometimes be complex [7]. Additionally, remote characterization is also possible through, for example, the interpretation of thermal inertia data [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%