3
$\begingroup$

The sample handling page at the Mars 2020 mission site shows us the rover with at its front a circle that probably contains the rotating drill carousel ?
However it states that the belly of the rover houses that carousel and the 43 sample tubes and a small robotic arm for moving those tubes.

Is indeed the carousel within that circle at the front ( what I rather would name the chest than the belly ) ?

And are there other, more detailed images or diagrams of the carousel, the housing of the tubes, and the small robotic arm ?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
$\begingroup$

This video, I think, answers your questions. I've taken a couple of screen grabs but the video really shows it. The relevant part starts about 1:30.

That UFO-shaped thing on the top front is the bit carousel and where the samples go in. It rotates until the sample tube is vertical.

enter image description here

Then the sample handling arm inside, grabs the sample tube out of the bit and moves it to the storage area in the belly.

enter image description here

Here's a picture of the sample storage area being installed in the belly.

enter image description here

(image source)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you, this answers the question completely ! I'm still confused though at what point the core sample will be placed into the sample tube "Essentially, after our rotary percussive drill takes a core sample,... mars.nasa.gov/news/8682/… $\endgroup$ – Cornelis Jun 26 '20 at 17:10
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Cornelisinspace "During each sample collection, the core sample will go directly into the tube attached to the drill. That bit and the sample tube are brought back by the robotic arm — our first robot — into the second robot, our bit carousel, which receives the … filled sample tube." spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/16/… Sounds like the bit contains the sample tube during drilling ops, then it gets removed and stored. $\endgroup$ – Organic Marble Jun 26 '20 at 17:36
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ That makes it clear ! So the bit with the core sample inside will go directly into the sample tube attached to the drill. Then with every new drilling a new bit and a new tube will have to be moved via the carousel to the turret of the robotic arm. $\endgroup$ – Cornelis Jun 26 '20 at 19:07
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Cornelisinspace I'm not clear on the 'new bit' part. It seems that there are more sample tubes than bits. It's an interesting mechanism. $\endgroup$ – Organic Marble Jun 26 '20 at 19:10
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You're right, I was wrong about the "new bit" part. "For core sampling, a sample tube is inserted inside the appropriate bit (on the carousel) before the carousel moves the combination into position for the drill. " ( to extract it.) "Once the sample tube has been filled, the robotic arm returns the drill bit and tube (still inside) to the carousel where they wend their way.... (I think the drill bit will stay in the carousel), phys.org/news/2019-08-robotic-toolkit-added-nasa-mars.html $\endgroup$ – Cornelis Jun 27 '20 at 9:46

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.