Development and testing of a pyro-driven Launcher for harpoon-based comet sample acquisition
- Paper number
IAC-17,A3,4B,5,x39772
- Author
Dr. Stefan Völk, DLR (German Aerospace Center), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Stephan Ulamec, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Jens Biele, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Matthias Hecht, DLR (German Aerospace Center), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Peter Lell, PyroGlobe GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Josef Fleischmann, Panasonic Industrial Devices Europe GmbH Pfaffenhofen, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Sebastian Althapp, Technische Universität München, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Markus Grebenstein, DLR (German Aerospace Center), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Joseph A. Nuth, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Donald Wegel, NASA, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Walter F. Smith, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Lloyd R. Purves, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Douglas S. Adams, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Stuart Hill, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. James C. Leary, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Harold A. Weaver, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Scott A. Sandford, NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Year
2017
- Abstract
The CORSAIR (COmet Rendezvous, Sample Acquisition, Investigation, and Return) mission is a study for the fourth NASA New Frontiers program. It belongs to the Comet Surface Sample Return mission theme which focuses on acquiring and returning to Earth a macroscopic sample from the surface of a comet nucleus. CORSAIR uses a harpoon-based Sample Acquisition System (SAS) with the spacecraft hovering several meters above the comet surface. This stand-off strategy overcomes disadvantages of systems using drills or shovels. Since comets are low gravity objects, these techniques would require anchoring before sampling which is not necessary here. Moreover, the harpoon-based system allows for acquiring several samples from different locations on the comet maximizing scientific output of the mission.\\ Each SAS assembly consists of a pyro-driven Launcher, a Sample Acquisition and Retrieval Projectile (SARP) and a retraction system using a deployable composite boom structure. In order to collect enough cometary material, the Launcher has to provide the required kinetic energy to the SARP. Due to high energy densities, pyrotechnically actuated devices ultimately reduce the overall system mass and dimensions. Here, an overview of the development, design and testing of the Launcher is given. Furthermore, the Launcher theory is introduced explaining the entire reaction chain: initiation $\rightarrow$ gas dynamics $\rightarrow$ SARP motion.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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