NASA Lunar Sampling System Design

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The NASA Lunar Sampling System requires key components, such as a gas supply, robot arm, motor controller compatible with the lander, and a programmable gas valve. The system operates by pushing it 20-30 mm into regolith, with the motor controlling the filtering process. In the first position, small rocks (<1 cm) pass through the filter with gas, while larger ones get stuck. In the second position, even smaller rocks are trapped. Finally, in the third position, the filter and iris mechanism gate close, securing the sample in the container. The nozzle ring is designed using direct metal laser sintering. For more information on the iris mechanism, check out https://www.molenaar-optics.nl/irisdiaphragms.htm. Space-rated motor details can be found at http://aviorcontrols.com/space-rated-motor-modules/, and space-rated cable specifications are available at https://www.gore.com/products/space-cables-for-spacewire-applications.