Box-of-Rocks Experiment II: Morphology and Sampling of Asteroid Regolith Simulants in Microgravity

SwRI’s Box of Rocks II experiment will test an innovative device for safely collecting regolith from the surface of small asteroids. The anchoring/sampling device magnetically collects regolith on its petal-like surfaces. Once a sample is collected, the device’s external surfaces evert, trapping the collected material inside a box. Paired with miniaturized electronics and propulsion capabilities, this innovation is expected to conduct multiple individual sample collections, reducing mission risk for the primary spacecraft. Problem Statement Surface science operations and sample return from small asteroids present substantial technical challenges. Some mission architectures require that the primary spacecraft conduct the sample collection maneuver, making the operation high risk and allowing for only one sample site. This technology is an anchoring and sampling architecture for the surfaces of small asteroids that could enable low-risk surface operations and sampling from multiple sites on any given target body. One objective of this experiment is to fly high-fidelity primitive asteroid regolith simulant to examine morphology after settling in milligravity conditions. A second objective is to provide a longer duration applied operational test with the same regolith simulant that has already been tested with prototype hardware in parabolic flight. Technology Maturation If successful in demonstrating the full sequence of exposing a magnetized sampler to an asteroid regolith analog in a long-duration, zero-gravity, vacuum environment, the test would show that the technology provides a safe, low-power means of anchoring to asteroid surfaces or collecting regolith samples. Testing also seeks to demonstrate that the technology’s anti-jamming mechanism is sufficient to enable closure of the petals if too much sample is collected.

This device is designed to enable surface sampling without using the mission’s primary spacecraft and reduce the potential for mechanical breakdown. Because it collects regolith via magnets, it eliminates power requirements and minimizes device size. This would benefit future NASA missions and the commercial space industry. Future Customers • NASA small body robotic spacecraft for surface science operations • Human exploration missions • Commercial in-situ resource utilization

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.