Summary Reader Response Draft 2 of ExoMars Drill Unit

The ExoMars drill unit was designed to acquire mineral samples in various types of soil to a depth of two metre. The features of the drill unit are a drill tool, a rotation-translation unit, and a drill box. With the features stated above. The ExoMars drill unit will not have an issue acquiring the samples on mars.

The drill unit can drill to an acceptable depth while not being on levelled ground. According to “First deep drilling success for ExoMars’’ (2021), the drill unit was able to drill to a depth of 1.7 m on earth while successfully collecting the sample. Drilling on earth is more difficult than drilling on mars as the test model must be suspended on a device to recreate the gravity on mars. In addition, drilling took place on a platform tilted seven degrees of the ground to stimulate a non-vertical position. Thus, having pass the test, the drill unit will not have any issues drilling on tilted surfaces to acquire the mineral samples on Mars.

The drill unit may not be able to operate due to unexpected environmental conditions on mars. With reference to “ExoMars will be drilling 1.7 meters to pull its samples from below the surface of mars” (2021), there are other various environmental challenges on Mars aside from the difference in gravitational strength which may cause the drill to be inoperative. This poses as an issue as the dill unit will not be able to acquire the samples if the drill unit is inoperative.

However, tests were conducted with the drill unit being able to operate in conditions similar of that on mars. According to “Positive results as space drill put to the test for ExoMars 2020 mission” (2018), the drill was able to operate in an environment simulating the Martian environment with temperatures ranging from -100 degrees to 35 degrees and atmosphere comprising of carbon dioxide with a pressure of five to ten millibars. As the drill unit was able to pass the test mimicking the conditions on Mars, it will not have issues operating and acquiring the samples.

 

References

European Space Agency. (2019, September 1). The ExoMars drill unit. https://exploration.esa.int/web/mars/-/43611-rover-drill


i-SAIRAS, Magnani, P., Re, E., Senese, S., Rizzi, F., Gily, A., & Baglioni, P. (2010, September). The Drill and Sampling System for the ExoMars Rover. http://robotics.estec.esa.int/i-SAIRAS/isairas2010/PAPERS/044-2769-p.pdf

European Space Agency (2021). First deep drilling success for ExoMars. Phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2021-09-deep-drilling-success-exomars.html

Milan (2018). Positive results as Space Drill put to the test for ExoMars 2020 mission. Leonardocompany

https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/trivella-test-exomars2020-marte

Williams.M (2021). ExoMars will be drilling 1.7 meters to pull its samples from below the surface of mars. universetoday.

https://www.universetoday.com/152582/exomars-will-be-drilling-1-7-meters-to-pull-its-samples-from-below-the-surface-of-mars/

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