Low Gravity Anchoring System

Future sampling missions to the Moon, Mars and Asteroids will likely involve drilling and in-situ analysis from mobile robotic platforms in low gravity. Past sampling systems like the MER and MSL Rovers have used tool body preloading as their method of stabilization. This method puts high demands on the deployment device and becomes less viable as gravity decreases, as with an asteroid sampling mission. This proposal involves the development of an effective low-gravity anchoring system which would decrease the preload requirement and peak reaction forces on the deployment device. And in the case of asteroid or comet sampling it would reduce the demand and complexity of the propulsion system. At the end of this Phase 1 proposal a prototype anchor will be developed to TRL 4. A proposed Phase 2 effort would develop a flight-like system and field test it advancing the technology to TRL 6.

The anchoring system of this proposal has applications for many of NASA's future robotic exploration programs, especially those involving sampling of planetary and small bodies such as asteroids and comets. It has uses such as: 1. Anchoring of a spacecraft to a small body; 2.Tool body preloading for core drilling and sampling in low gravity environments; 3. Anchoring safety tethers at a cliff or crater edge making a descent or traverse possible by a rover; 4. Anchoring instruments that are deployed and left to gather data.

Robots and rovers are becoming more and more common in environments where human presence is not safe or possible. An autonomous rock anchor could be useful for 1) Robotic drilling and sampling systems for nuclear reactors or storage facilities 2) Anchoring safety tethers for commercial exploration 3) Robotic submersibles.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

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.