Mars Subsurface Access (MSA)

This effort is developing drilling technology to enable future access into the Martian subsurface. Drilling deeper than a few meters in space requires an architecture that is more sensitive to power and mass than standard drilling practices. This technical approach leverages the Martian atmosphere as the working fluid both to deliver power to the drill head downhole and to entrain and move the cuttings generated up and out of the wellbore. With the drill tethered to the surface rather than affixed with a top drive, the system is designed to drill tens of meters with minimal mass. Understanding the performance of this novel design and bridging technical gaps in the compression and drill-actuation subsystems are the focus of the task.

Subsurface access is one of the next frontiers for Mars exploration, and the most compelling places to search for evidence of past or present life on the red planet. Orbiters, landers, and rovers have scouted the Martian atmosphere and surface, learning much about its habitability over the surface of the planet. Drilling approximately 10 meters or deeper would enable access to pristine samples that have been protected from radiation and oxidizing chemicals on the surface for billions years. Samples acquired in the process may reveal evidence of prebiotic chemistry, extinct life, or even extant life in certain locations, as well as shed light on the geologic and climate history of Mars. Deep access to the Martian subsurface requires technical approaches that minimize mass, power, complexity, and risk of failure in robotic operation commanded from Earth. A tethered system that uses the local atmosphere as a working fluid to power the drill head downhole and remove cuttings generated allows for minimal mass of hardware per unit-depth drilled. If successful, this drill system design would enable us to access and sample tens of meters into the Martin crust with power efficient and lightweight hardware.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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