Lunar Monkey| Virtual Planetary Exploration
Virtual Planetary Exploration
Cosmos Geology
Summary
Our planet's resources are finite, in fact even our own galaxy has a shelf life. By the time the sun goes out, humanity will be in colonies in other galaxies."Cosmos geology" consists of 2 sampling and field analysis tools: ULTRASONIC PERFORATION SYSTEM (UPS) and MINERAL HARDNESS TESTER (MHT), in order to explore the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the lunar surface (adaptable to other planets). The kit is designed considering moon conditions (atmospheric conditions, gravity, corrosion by moon dust, etc.), being also resistant and easy to use tools (semi-automatic, multifunctional, practical).
How We Addressed This Challenge
Why is it important to think and design optimal tools for exploration?
A better understanding of the lunar geology can help to clarify its origin and geological history, as well as the resources available in it, contributing to the scientific knowledge, which then will serve the human societies. Geological resources can, in turn, be studied for use in future missions, as a source of energy and as a substrate for lunar campaigns. This is why the collection of geological data is of extreme importance, and for this purpose the appropriate tools must be provided.
LINK TO WEBPAGE https://darksideground.co/index.html
OUR SOLUTION
The solution proposed in this project is the creation of two field exploration tools.
The first one is MINERAL HARDNESS TESTER (MHT) destined to the fast identification of minerals by means of a qualitative analysis denominated "Test of Mohs", by which the relative hardness of a mineral can be determined. This constitutes a key tool of mineral identification in field exploration, and serves to map new and/or existing mineralogical associations.
second tool ULTRASONIC PERFORATION SYSTEM (UPS) is intended for the extraction of core samples (6cm diameter and 25cm long cylinder) by using a metallic cylinder that vibrates at high frequency driven by a piezoelectric transducer. In that way it erodes the rock by means of the vibrations pulverizing the material under the edges of the cylinder without affecting the center of it. This UPS tool also has interchangeable heads: the first and main one is the drilling cylinder which, when required, can be replaced by a head containing a Geiger counter (designed to measure radiation emitted by certain materials); or by a head containing an ultrasonic distanceometer (which will allow determining depths of the previously named radioactive materials).
The final objective of this project is the creation of automatic tools that will speed up the astronaut's field work. Thus, for each tool the following premises have been considered:
- that it allows to optimize the sampling time during the field work.
- that the astronaut's safety is prioritized during exploration, preventing him/her from making manual efforts during the maneuver.
- that the tools are made of materials resistant to the damage that the lunar environment can cause
How We Developed This Project
OUR INSPIRATIONAL STORY
Our team is characterized by the diversity of its participants, interests, and human backgrounds.
We chose this challenge because we find in it our equality: we are engineering and geology students, passionate about space sciences, and willing to collaborate as a team in the pursuit of solutions to present day problems.
Another of our great motivations is to promote scientific knowledge about celestial bodies, how they are composed, their geological history and how this knowledge can be used. This is why generating innovative tools to help collect information on these heavenly bodies is of utmost importance.
APPROACH AND BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
The focus of our project is the exploration of the moon's surface. To this purpose, our research was based on Apollo's heroic missions and also on the expectations for the future Artemis mission.
From our research, we determined that the tools used by Apollo had to be optimized, as well as some to re-explore in a deeper way what this mission first revealed.
So we went in search of materials and methods to obtain an optimal design in our tools, and in addition, we focused the project on the search for strategic mineralogical concentrations, such as uranium, mapped in 2007 by JAXA.
To achieve tool optimization, one of our approaches was to generate innovative tools that present the least amount of moving parts, since these can present many technical difficulties in this environment (moon dust damages moving parts, generating failures, the difficulty of performing maintenance, etc.). In addition to the reduction of moving parts, one of the perspectives of the project is to reduce time and effort, making tools of easy use (Mineral hardness tester) or automatic (Ultrasonic perforation system).
IT'S TIME TO WORK!
To develop our project, we used different programs and tools that helped us both in the administrative part of tasks (Trello, Google drive, Discord, Spaceapps chat, GoDaddy) and in the development of our final product (3D models with Blender, Sketchfab).
As a team we were able to organize ourselves very efficiently in the designation of tasks, as well as establish instances of brainstorming and discussion to advance the project. We integrated the scientific and engineering viewpoints to achieve useful tools from both points of view. The difficulties presented in the project varied between choosing the right materials for the tools, as well as finding the most creative and understandable way to put our ideas at the service of others.
How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project
DATA IS EVERYTHING
NASA's resources on the Apollo missions (A16-17_PressKit), Catalog of Apollo Lunar Surface Geological Sampling Tools and Containers by Judith Haley Allton, and Artemis (Artemis Geology Tools Deputy Project Manager, February, 2020 by Adam Naids), were used as references to the tools that were used on the lunar surface, as well as their mechanism of operation.
In the videos of the Apollo missions, a complex and slow process of sampling by the astronauts could be observed, due to manual operation of the tools. This problem led us to seek the automation of tools and mechanisms that would adapt to the lower gravity of the moon.
The findings and concentrations of Uranium on the lunar surface measured by Kaguya GRS 2007 (JAXA data) were analyzed from Distribution map of Uranium and Thorium on the lunar surface.This element (U) was identified as an element of interest for exploration, due to its energy potential.
Project Demo
LINK to 30 second video DEMO of Cosmos geology project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUCw4AcJuKI&ab_channel=andypistone
Data & Resources
Resources from Nasa SpaceApps page
- Apollo 16 Presskit
- Apollo 17 Presskit
- Exploration EVA System Concept of Operations Summary for Artemis Phase 1 Lunar Surface Mission (EVA Exploration Workshop, February 18, 2020)
- Artemis Geology Tools EVA Exploration Workshop Adam Naids, Artemis Geology Tools Deputy Project Manager February, 2020.
- CATALOG OF APOLLO LUNAR SURFACE GEOLOGICAL SAMPLING TOOLS AND CONTAINERS Judith Haley Allton Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company Houston, Texas, March 1989
Papers from other sources:
- Greybush SJ, Kalnay E, Wilson RJ, et al. The Ensemble Mars Atmosphere Reanalysis System (EMARS) Version 1.0. Geosci Data J. 2019;6::137–150.
- KOKELAAR ET AL. GRANULAR AVALANCHES ON THE MOON
- Groemer G and Ozdemir S (2020) Planetary Analog Field Operations as a Learning Tool. Front. Astron. Space Sci. 7:32. doi: 10.3389/fspas.2020.00032
- Novel, Moon and Mars, partial gravity simulation paradigms and their effects on the balance between cell growth and cell proliferation during early plant development - Aránzazu Manzano, Raúl Herranz, Leonardus A. den Toom, Sjoerd te Slaa, Guus Borst, Martijn Visser, F. Javier Medina and Jack J. W. A. van Loon
- Uranium on the Moon: Global distribution and U/Th ratio - N. Yamashita, N. Hasebe,R. C. Reedy, Kobayashi, Y. Karouji, M. Hareyama, E. Shibamura, M.‐N. Kobayashi,O. Okudaira, C. d’Uston,O. Gasnault,O. Forni, and K. J. Kim
- Manual de los Aceros Inoxidable - Handbook INDURA
- Manual de los Aceros Inoxidable / Aceros en trabajo en frío - Handbook Bohler
- Integrated characterization of subsurface media from locations 1 up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer - Ji-Won Moon, Charles J. Paradis
- La Escala de Mohs Dureza de los Minerales - Moreno Ramón, Héctor , Ibáñez Asensio, Sara Universitat Politècnica de València
- Outgassing Data for Selecting Spacecraft Materials - NASA Reference Publication 1124 Revision 4 June 1997
Other links:
https://www.ngenespanol.com/ciencia/siete-instrumentos-nasa-llevara-al-planeta-rojo/
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburo_de_wolframio
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/main/index.html
https://www.space.com/6904-uranium-moon.html
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-things-you-need-know-about-fission-surface-power-systems
https://hackaday.io/project/158327-geigerros
https://moon.nasa.gov/exploration/moon-missions/
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/beresheet/in-depth/
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/earths-moon/overview/
For 3D model design we used:
Blender: https://www.blender.org/
Texture: https://fondos.wallpaperstock.net/purple-outer-space-sky-wallpapers_w43351.html
Astronaut (By NASA): https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/astronaut
Moon Kit (By NASA): https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4720
Wooden Chair(By jetstorm_477) :https://free3d.com/3d-model/wooden-chair-38608.html
For Video Edit:
Shotcut: https://shotcut.org/