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Completed TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 4)
This project will further develop a soil conditioning device for preparing lunar or planetary regolith simulant to a known state, which is essential to the design and validation of ISRU tools. The device is comprised of an auger for loosening and mixing and a cone penetrometer for testing the soil condition, mounted on a cart, along with a bevameter. We will test the soil conditioning device and run excavation tests for a sensitivity study of soil conditions on excavation force measurements and design, build, and test a bevameter and a VIPER wheel analog as we develop the procedures for preparing the Lunar simulant to a known condition. Testing will use the GRC Excavation lab and GRC-3B Lunar simulant bin that provides a relevant environment for Lunar ISRU excavation. The PI and GRC Team members created the Excavation lab and have significant experience with soil mechanics, excavation, and designing ISRU test articles.
Soil conditioning device to repeatably condition lunar or planetary regolith simulant to simulate in-situ geotechnical properties will enable development of ISRU tools and surface assets that interact with soils optimized for the operational flight environment of human and autonomous exploration.
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