MSR Returned Sample Handling and Sample Removal Technology Development

The Mars Returned Sample Handling (MRSH) task developed key technologies to remove gas and solid samples collected within Returnable Sample Tube Assemblies (RSTA) by the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and returned to Earth. This includes technologies to: deintegrate the Earth Entry System (EES) containing the Orbiting Sample (OS) container; deintegrate the OS containing up to 30 RSTA sample tubes; enclose the RSTAs within a sealed secondary container for protection during handling operations and pre-basic characterization studies; extract gas stored within the tubes; extract solid samples stored within the tubes; and transfer the solid samples into a Core Dissection Tray Container (CDTC) for sample processing, examination, safety assessment, and storage. The sample handling approach is being developed with input from the Sample Receiving Project (SRP) Joint Science Office (JSO) and Johnson Space Center (JSC) Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) to address returned sample science, curation, contamination control, and planetary protection concerns. Prototypes for a Secondary Outer Containment Case (SOCC) and Sample Tube Isolation Container (STIC) were fabricated to assess x-ray computed tomography (XCT) and magnetometry compatibility. Testbeds were developed to demonstrate sample tube puncture, cutting, and sample removal. Hardware mockups were built to assess ergonomics for operation and refurbishment within a Doubled Walled Isolator (DWI). A robotic Handling System (HS) testbed was assembled to test RSTA and CDTC pick-and-place operations using a robotic arm and end effector. An end-to-end demonstration of sample handling operations was carried out on a flight-like Mars 2020 RSTA with a Mars analog core sample to validate the system and operational concept. Testing of critical sample handling functions demonstrated proof-of-concept and technology validation to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3.