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Soil mechanics surface sampler: Lunar surface tests, results, and analyses

1968; American Geophysical Union; Volume: 73; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/jb073i012p04045

2156-2202

Ronald F. Scott, F. I. Roberson,

Astro and Planetary Science

After the success of Surveyor 1 in meeting the objectives of the engineering flight series, selection from among candidate experiments led to the inclusion of the soil mechanics surface sampler (SMSS) on the Surveyor 3 payload.Altho.ughoriginally planned for later Survey.ors, the SMSS was modified to fit the red.uced telemetry and commanding capability of Surveyor 3. Specifically, the SMSS was adapted to the mounting location and the electronics interface of the approach television camera.This required a concentrated, short-term effort to modify, btfild, and test the SMSS to meet the demanding interface requirements.Modifications to the SMSS included removal of the strain-, acceleration-, and position-measuring systems originally planned and incorporation of a means for measuring current drawn by the motors during operation.A description of the modified device, its performance on Surveyor 3, and some conclusions about the lunar surface material are presented in this paper.SUBSYSTEM I)ESCRIPTION The SMSS subsystem consists of a mechanism, an electronics auxiliary, an installation substructure, and wiring harnesses.The mechanism is an electromechanical device that can pick, dig, scrape, and trench the lunar surface and transport lunar surface material [Scott, 1967].The electronics auxiliary provides command decoding, data buffering, power management, squib firing, and control of the mechanism, motors, and clutch.The installation substructure supports the mechanism and the auxiliary on the spacecraft.The wiring harnesses provide the electrical interconnections with the spacecraft and between units within the subsystem.Extension-retraction mechanism.The exten-of the performance of the mechanism and auxiliary during the mission.