What is ASTROBOX and what does it hope to achieve?

ASTROBOX is a set of equipment and geology hand tools created specially for space explorers of future Mars missions to use while they research on the surface. It takes inspiration from NASA's Apollo 17 Geology tools in terms of design and functionality. Some of the tools include a scoop, drive tubes and a digital handheld weighing scale (List of all tools and their functions are given below). ASTROBOX hopes to achieve cheaper space travel and planetary exploration, our tools are designed to lower the initial cost of launching the rocket into orbit.

Why is ASTROBOX important?

Presently, the cost required to launch 1 kg into orbit is at an average of US $18,500, we don't know if this average will change for the better and thus we need to design the equipment taking the odds into consideration. The whole idea of creating this ultimate tool-kit comes from the fact that missions to Mars would't be cost efficient and therefore we will have to save costs by reducing the launch weight which can be done by introducing multi-functionality.

ASTROBOX consists of 10 tools designed in a way that they are low on weight and can be used inter-changeably to suit the needs of the user. Moreover, ASTROBOX is new and updated, it perfectly adapts to the ever-changing spacesuit designs, but it is particularly designed for the xEMU (Extravehicular Mobile Unit) which has its orbital testing scheduled for a date in the year 2023 (The date isn't disclosed as of yet).

What does ASTROBOX do and how does it work?

ASTROBOX does a simple thing - it provides, it provides the user with comfort, efficiency and ease of use. Its design is simple and sleek, keeping in mind the problems astronauts face while using geology tools. lets take a look at each tool one-by-one:

1) Scoop: The scoop showcases a pan like structure which would be useful to pick up and/or collect the loose regolith. The pan itself measures 7 cm x 5 cm with a height of 2 cm. For scooping and trenching, the scoop has been adjusted it in a way that it can be manually moved along a range of 180-60 (degrees) from the handle.

2) Drive Tubes: The Drive tubes would be used to collect samples of the Martian regolith. They would be driven into soil, loose gravel, or soft rock and then pulled out so as to expose the material below the layer of Martian dust. The tube can be attached to the extension handle to facilitate sampling. Their cylindrical bodies measure 25 cm with a radius of 2.5 cm.

3) Rake: The rake is used to collect discrete samples of rocks and rock chips ranging from 1.3 cm to 2.5 cm in size. The perforated plate in the front gets rid of the top soil and dust prior to the other materials so as to reduce the chances of its traces in the final sample. its dimensions are 15 cm x 9 cm with a height of 4 cm featuring a net like structure at the back.

4) Tongs: The tongs are supposed to be used to pick up loose regolith pieces, chips and/or top rocks that are loosely attached to the surface. Its measurements are as follows - 9 cm x 4 cm with a width of 4 cm. It features 8 fingers, 4 on either side which are bent at an angle of 145 (degrees) to help pick up material.

5) Extension rod: The extension rod is a 2 piece tool whose handle can be detached and be used to measure sample weights. The structure of this extension rod is rather complicated, it features 3 thin tubes which are housed into one another with respect to their radii, they can be pulled out in series, like a selfie stick and can be adjusted to the astronaut's needs.

6)Hammer: With its sleek design, the hammer can be used to chip or break large rocks, as a pick, and/or as a hammer to drive the drive tubes into the Martian regolith. The Hammer unlike the above tools can be used without the extension handle. it measures 9 cm (along with the pick side) x 2 cm with a height of 2 cm and the handle is of a cylindrical kind measuring 18 cm in length with a 1 cm radius.

7) Sampling bags: ASTROBOX's sampling bags don't differ much from the ones of the Apollo geology tool box and this is because they have a rather simpler structure, a plastic bag (thickness of plastic - 0.2 mm) which would've represented a zip-lock bag if it wasn't for its unique fold crimp and lock locking mechanism. They measure 27 cm x 20 cm. Basic industrial-grade spring clips are supposed to be used to seal off the sampling bags.

Fold Crimp and Lock mechanism - After filling the sampling bag and closing it shut using the pre-attached double sided tape, the closed opening can be folded in a in a zig-zag fashion, be clipped off with a clip and then can be place inside the sample box without being worried of it opening mid-research.

8) Sampling containers: The sampling containers on the other hand differ a lot from Apollo's tools. They, when not in use, can be squeezed to a height of 5 cm which would have otherwise been 20 cm if it were filled. Its accordion-like structure helps it follow this mechanism. All containers have a radius of 3.5 cm.

9) Digital Handheld Weighing Scale: Being the only digital object in the kit, the Handheld Weighing Scale is the only one which serves 2 completely different functions, first being the handle of the extension rod (as talked about earlier) and as a weighing scale of course.

While using it as a handle, a button provided can be turned on which makes it neglect all the other buttons that the astronauts would accidentally press while working with it. Turn the button off, remove the extension handle, fix the required hook and you’ve got yourself a digital weighing scale which can be used to weigh the regolith and soil samples.

10) Sample holder: The sample holder houses the filled sample bags and containers, its interior has been lined with fiber mesh so as to reduce the chances of charged Martian dust spreading throughout the volume of the space module once it has been opened inside, the charged dust gets embedded between the layers of the fibers and thus it can't flow out freely.