Frozen Return Samples to Earth (FROSTE)

FROSTE is focused on providing the Science community with mobile deep-cryogenic stowage of samples collected on the lunar or Martian surfaces and environmentally controlled accommodation back to Earth for scientific research. One of the Moon 2 Mars program objectives is to satisfy the Lunar/Planetary Science goals that address high-priority planetary science questions. These goals are best addressed by on-site human explorers on and around the Moon and Mars, facilitated by surface and orbiting robotic systems. Initially, the FROSTE system will be tasked with the stowage of samples, at cryogenic temperatures (below 120 Kelvin), obtained from regions of interest on the lunar surface identified by the Lunar/Planetary Science community. Once the samples are extracted from the surface and placed into the FROSTE containment system the curation process has begun. It will be the responsibility of FROSTE to maintain the samples in an as-collected state until they are placed into a static curation facility back on Earth where they will be analyzed. FROSTE will utilize a combination of active and passive thermal management systems to maintain the samples within the acknowledged Scientific requirements. Preliminary guidelines indicate a core sample extraction depth of up to 3 meters from a permanently shadowed region (PSR) of the moon with the desire to return up to 50kg of samples.

Specifically, the following science objectives would be addressed by the utilization of the FROSTE system of hardware:

Lunar/Planetary Science (LPS) Goal: Address high-priority planetary science questions that are best accomplished by on-site human explorers on and around the Moon and Mars, aided by surface and orbiting robotic systems.

• LPS-1LM: Uncover the record of solar system origin and early history, by determining how and when planetary bodies formed and differentiated, characterizing the impact chronology of the inner solar system as recorded on the Moon and Mars, and characterizing how impact rates in the inner solar system have changed over time as recorded on the Moon and Mars.
  • LPS-2LM: Advance understanding of the geologic processes that affect planetary bodies by determining the interior structures, characterizing the magmatic histories, characterizing ancient, modern, and evolution of atmospheres/exospheres, and investigating how active processes modify the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
  • LPS-3LM: Reveal the inner solar system's volatile origin and delivery processes by determining the age, origin, distribution, abundance, composition, transport, and sequestration of lunar and Martian volatiles.

In addition to the LPS goals, it is anticipated that the development of cryogenic stowage (<120 Kelvin) would provide for long-term storage of supplies during future deep-space missions.

Science-Enabling (SE) Goal: Develop integrated human and robotic methods and advanced techniques that enable high-priority scientific questions to be addressed around and on the Moon and Mars.

• SE-3LM: Develop the capability to retrieve core samples of frozen volatiles from permanently shadowed regions on the Moon and volatile-bearing sites on Mars and to deliver them in pristine states to modern curation facilities on Earth.
  • SE-4LM: Return representative samples from multiple locations across the surface of the Moon and Mars, with sample mass commensurate with mission-specific science priorities.
• This is an enabling technology for lunar sample return, as there are currently no phase change materials (PCMs) capable of performing at the cryogenic temperatures needed for the Artemis missions. Returning lunar samples in pristine conditions at cryogenic temperatures will allow scientists, engineers, and technologists to better understand the Moon’s composition and geotechnical properties. This, in turn, can lead to advances in a wide variety of technologies, including in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and dust mitigation, as well as advances in science, helping us understand space weather and how our solar system was formed.
• Other Artemis and Moon to Mars programs have expressed interest in using passive cryogenic storage for biological sample return as well. Although Artemis is the direct mission pull, many additional uses of a cryogenic PCM can be envisioned, including both in-space and on-Earth applications.
• There is a clear path to infusion of this technology within the FROSTE project, which will enable pristine regolith sample return from the Moon. However, this technology also has the potential to be utilized for other science returns (biological, material) from space, or even in terrestrial cold storage applications.
• Testing of one potential PCM has been accomplished and the second phase of testing is set to occur in FY26 with an additional candidate and several more candidates are being reviewed for inclusion in the test.

• In addition, as part of the Secondary Sealed Container Proof of Concept development the PCMs will be tested in an integrated fashion with simulated regolith and active cryogenic cooling to demonstrate the technical viability and performance of PCMs into the cryogenic temperature range.

   

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