Lock Release Mechanism for the CHOMIK Penetrating Device and its Tribological Properties

摘要

A unique geological low velocity penetrator CHOMIK for the Russian Phobos Sample Return mission has been developed at Space Research Centre PAS (SRC PAS). One of the most important goals of the mission is to collect a soil sample from Phobos and deliver it to the Earth. The sample will be collected from the surface layers of the Mars' satellite by the penetrator and deposited in a container that is going to land in 2014 in Kazakhstan, encased in the Russian re-entry capsule. Apart from sampling, CHOMIK will perform thermal and mechanical measurements of Phobos' regolith. The penetrator itself is an improved version of the MUPUS instrument for the ESA's Rosetta mission. A new lock and release (L&R) mechanism for the instrument has been developed to meet the Phobos lander requirements. The penetrator is held in place by a multi-arms mechanism and released using Dyneema string melting system. This actuation method provides reliable operation with negligible shock and no special handling requirements.