Planetary sample sealing for caching

Paul Backes, Tullis C. Onstott, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Mircea Badescu, Lisa Pratt, Daniel Helmick, Stewart Sherrit, Adam Johnson, Xiaoqi Bao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A sample sealing technique was developed and tested for a possible Mars Sample Return mission application. The effect on the scientific viability of biological samples from storage of samples in a sample container for a long period of time on the Martian surface was also investigated. Sealing techniques were investigated and a soldering concept was developed and tested to provide a hermetic seal between a sample tube and cap. A sample caching subsystem design concept was updated to allow for sealing of sample tubes. A gas-tight vessel was constructed that could be used to simulate environmental conditions that would be experienced by a sample of regolith on Mars and to test the affects of thermal cycling of the vessel on psychrophilic microorganisms embedded in a regolith simulant to assess the degree of deterioration of the microorganisms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2009 IEEE Aerospace Conference
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 IEEE Aerospace Conference - Big Sky, MT, United States
Duration: Mar 7 2009Mar 14 2009

Publication series

NameIEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings
ISSN (Print)1095-323X

Other

Other2009 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBig Sky, MT
Period3/7/093/14/09

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

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