Landing System for Hypothesized Surfaces – Static Spike Landing System

INSTITUTION

University of Georgia (UGA)

CLASS

Iridium Class (2024 – 2025)

STUDENT TEAM

ACADEMIC GUIDANCE

Dr. Roger Hilten
Dr. Adam Wineland
Dr. Christian Klimczak

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project presents a conceptual landing system designed for small-body exploration missions, specifically targeting the surface of the asteroid 16 Psyche. The proposed system, “Static Spike Lander”, employs a mechanically redundant anchoring architecture that integrates telescoping landing spikes with a resin-based stabilization mechanism. Upon touchdown, the system actuates a series of rack-and-pinion spike extensions followed by controlled injection of a two-part, space-rated resin into the regolith. This process enables permanent fixation of the lander in low-gravity environments where traditional anchoring methods are unreliable. The design is informed by some heritage systems from past small-body missions and incorporates adaptive feedback, cold gas propulsion, and a honeycomb-based shock absorption structure to ensure survivability and operational autonomy on uncertain terrain.

 

This work was created in partial fulfillment of the University of Georgia Capstone Course “MCHE 4910”. The work is a result of the Psyche Student Collaborations component of NASA’s Psyche Mission (https://psyche.asu.edu). “Psyche: A Journey to a Metal World” [Contract number NNM16AA09C] is part of the NASA Discovery Program mission to solar system targets. Trade names and trademarks of ASU and NASA are used in this work for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by Arizona State University or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ASU or NASA.