NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is currently conducting drop tests to ensure the successful landing of the heaviest spacecraft to touch down on Mars for the Mars Sample Return campaign. The engineering team at JPL is focused on testing the prototype legs and footpads of the Sample Retrieval Lander to ensure it can absorb the impact of touchdown.
The drop tests are being carried out at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Engineers drop prototype lander legs and footpads to measure how they absorb the shock of hitting the Martian ground. These tests are crucial in analyzing the energy absorption during landing and refining the lander’s design.
The Sample Retrieval Lander, which would be the largest spacecraft ever to land on Mars, weighing up to 5,016 pounds, requires next-generation parachutes and rocket engines to slow its descent. It also needs to carry a rocket to launch the collected samples to an awaiting orbiter. In addition, the lander can accommodate mini-helicopters as a backup to retrieve samples from a depot.
The drop tests simulate challenging landing scenarios, including touchdown at an angle or colliding with a rock. Engineers have even hung a prototype from a pendulum to mimic an angled landing. High-speed cameras used during the tests revealed the need for stronger flight struts to handle landing forces. Load limiters, steel rods connecting the lander’s chassis to its legs, were also tested to absorb impact.
The full-size foot pads of the lander are tested in a box filled with simulated Martian soil. The footpads, which attach to an assembly with iron weight plates, aim to prevent the lander’s feet from sinking too far and ensure stability for rocket liftoff. The impact of the footpad on the soil is closely analyzed through high-speed camera footage.
However, testing the footpads comes with challenges due to the Mars-like soil. The soil bed has to be rebuilt after each test to ensure consistency, and it must be compacted to mimic Martian soil conditions. Although the process is time-consuming, it is necessary to accurately assess the interaction between the lander’s footpads and the soil.
The rigorous testing being conducted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will provide crucial insights for the final design of the Sample Retrieval Lander. The findings will help ensure a successful Mars Sample Return mission, allowing samples from the Red Planet to be brought back to Earth for further scientific analysis.
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