Subsurface Access & Sampling
TGSS — Touch-and-Go Sampling System
The Touch-and-Go Surface Sampler is a comet or planetary sampling tool developed by Honeybee Robotics. It has a high speed sampling head attached to the end of a flexible shaft; the head comes into contact with planetary or comet surfaces long enough to kick up a plume of debris.
While sampling, the drill head spins counter-rotating cutters at speeds of 5,000 to 8,000 rpm and consumes between 20 W and 30 W of power. The flexible shaft attached to the sampling head allows the sampler to conform to the comet, asteroid, or planet surface; an ideal mechanism for sampling from unknown or high-risk surfaces. Unconsolidated samples of up to 30 cubic centimeters can be acquired, but penetration rates vary with surface composition. The system is reusable and samples can be analyzed by in-situ instruments during a mission, but the sampler may also be outfitted to provide for sample return.
The Touch-and-Go system is designed to be deployed from a balloon-based craft for planetary missions, therefore avoiding the complexity and costs associated with a landed mission.