Samples catching is a crucial aspect of this project: Mimas itself is made to carry a set of sensors and devices to collect information from the surrounding area. Collecting small samples of the terrain is a great way to study a planet's geological history and look for signs of life. After all, these are the objectives of the rovers sent to Mars! For this project, hermetically sealed sample tubes are not an option, since they would require a level of designing and machining far more complex than what we can do in such a short period of time. For this reason, the sample tubes made for Mimas are PVC tubes with a custom 3D-printed base that will be held in position by the sample tubes carousel. This mechanism is inspired by the drill bit carousel used for Perseverance, but instead of delivering the correct drill bit for the robotic arm, it rotates, exposing the first empty sample tube ready for filling.
- [Hours of work: 1h]
- [People involved: Giorgio]
