Strata-2P - characterizing sensor-regolith interactions in reduced-gravity

NASA’s space exploration plans are increasing the need for more detailed understanding of the behavior of dust and regolith on the surfaces of planetary bodies, including how those surfaces respond to disturbances and the subsequent effect on reduced-gravity operations. The University of Central Florida’s Strata-2P: Characterizing Sensor-Regolith Interactions in Reduced Gravityexperiment will enable testing of technologies for investigating the formation and interaction of small particles and layered structures in low-gravity environments to inform robotic and human in-situ exploration.

Problem Statement NASA’s planned lunar and planetary missions are driving the rapidly increasing need for a more detailed understanding of the behavior of dust and regolith on the surfaces of small, airless bodies, how those surfaces respond to disturbances, and what effects these environments will have on reduced-gravity operations. Strata-2P builds off of previously flown International Space Station and suborbital flight experiments and complements an ongoing station experiment. With successful testing, its technologies could be leveraged for detailed investigations into the formation and interaction of small particles and layered structures in low-gravity environments, informing robotic and human in-situ exploration activities. 

Technology Maturation Testing Strata-2P on a parabolic flight is expected to advance the TRL by enabling evaluation of the performance of the mechanical devices in variable-gravity environments and comparing to performance in ground-based experiments. In order to meet current and long-term technological and scientific goals, researchers will characterize measurements of regolith penetration and flow with in-situ measurements. 

Summary of Flight Test
2021-12-07 The Strata-2P experiment builds from previously flown projects in a family of experiments that explore regolith interactions at variable gravity. The experiment hardware has down been demonstrated to be versatile to be used across parabolic, suborbital, and ISS flights. This flight campaign demonstrated a new use with additional sensors and tool testing, focused on tools of use for characterizing geotechnical properties in simulated lunar regolith. Initial sensor results will be used to advance designs for lunar regolith probe suites for use on rovers and landers. The flights demonstrated unique challenges to operating some mechanisms in the variable gravity environment with the fine regolith simulant, which is pertinent for future operations in the dusty lunar environment. 
2023-05-08, 2023-12-04, 2024-04-15 The Strata-2P experiment (UCF/SWRI) is designed to explore the behavior of lunar regolith simulants in varied reduced gravity environment, specifically under different compaction/porosity conditions. Sensors embedded in the regolith measured thermal and electrical conductivity throughout the flight, under primarily lunar and martian gravity-levels. Significant advancements were made on a penetrometer subsystem, capable of measuring the bearing strength and sheer stresses in the upper-most layers of lunar regolith. This system achieved a successful flight demonstration abord the Zero-G reduced-gravity aircraft, demonstrating repeated operations in several gravity levels without jamming. Our automated

NASA’s space exploration plans are increasing the need for more detailed understanding of the behavior of dust and regolith on the surfaces of planetary bodies, including how those surfaces respond to disturbances and the subsequent effect on reduced-gravity operations. The University of Central Florida’s Strata-2P: Characterizing Sensor-Regolith Interactions in Reduced Gravity experiment will enable testing of technologies for investigating the formation and interaction of small particles and layered structures in low-gravity environments to inform roboticand human in-situ exploration. This would benefit NASA missions, the commercial space industry, other government agencies, and the nation. 

Future Customers
•Lunar in-situ resource utilization
•Science missions for characterizing the surface of the Moon, asteroids, and other planetary surfaces

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