This report is about the instrument/mechanism technology needs for future automated exploration, prospecting and assaying oh a remote surface. It is concerned with the scientific instruments that measure geological, geophysical and environmental phenomena, and that map and position for these data. It also is concerned with the support mechanisms that will be required to acquire samples, prepare samples, and in general make it possible for the scientific instruments to do their job. The capability to specify new instrument/mechanism technology needs, for effective remote-surface exploration, prospecting and assaying (EPA), requires first, an understanding of the functions or major elements of such a task, and second an understanding of the scientific instruments and support mechanisms that may be involved. From this kind of information some idea of the new technology that will be required for future remote-surface EPA missions can be derived.
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