Hypothesized Surface: Sample Acquisition from Hypothesized Surfaces – UTT-A
INSTITUTION
University of Texas – Tyler
CLASS
Silver Class (2022 – 2023)
STUDENT TEAM
Ishfar Ahmed, Mechanical Engineering
Makamte Soh Nadine, Mechanical Engineering
Wendnere serge sampebre, Mechanical engineering
ACADEMIC GUIDANCE
Dr. Hussain Rizvi, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Department, UT Tyler (Houston Engineering Center)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This mission is to determine whether (16) Psyche is a core or if it is made up of an intact material and determine the relative ages of regions of (16) Psyche’s surface. It is also to determine whether small metal bodies incorporate the same light elements as are expected in the Earth’s high-pressure core and determine whether (16) Psyche was formed under conditions more oxidizing or more reducing than Earth’s core.
All of this can be accomplished by characterizing (16) Psyche’s topography. Our purpose is to design and build a prototype able to extract core samples from the surface of (16) Psyche and store them in sealed caching units to avoid cross-contamination. The possible surfaces of (16) Psyche were researched and evaluated to determine the necessary drilling forces required to extract core samples. A Cartesian robotic arm was designed to provide mobility for the drilling assembly to perform its functions, and then store the samples.