NASA Lunar Sampling System

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The system operates based on the following process: firstly, a ladle collects unsorted material up to a depth of 100 mm while its lattice rejects fragments larger than 20 mm. Next, the ladle tilts at a 45-degree angle, allowing the material to fall into a sorting area where the initial filter separates particles under 1 mm in size. The sorted materials are temporarily stored in containers with gates, followed by the second filter that removes fragments between 1 and 10 mm. Samples larger than 10 mm are stored in another container. Afterwards, any remaining material is washed away. The ladle then moves to a 45-degree position, opening the container gates to release the selected samples into vertical tanks. A video camera monitors the material levels in these tanks. This process repeats until the tanks are filled. The step engine, which activates the drum mixer, rotates to the opposite side, transmitting torque to the mixer's drum through a ratchet. The drum mixer completes three turns: first, it opens a gate under the large fragment tank, allowing them to fall into the drum; second, it opens a gate under the friable material tank, filling the spaces between fragments as the mixer rotates; finally, the mixer opens a container gate, depositing the mixed sample into the container. The ladle sorter, vertical tanks, and mixer reel are all made of aluminum alloy 1201, utilizing a Phytron VSS series step engine.