Research

Patrick Harkness; Kevin Worrall; Colin McInnes; Kostas Kontis; Matteo Ceriotti

Our project objectives

Exploration activities focus on the penetration and sampling of granular, rocky, and permafrost or ice-based materials. We research the use of ultrasonic and percussive technologies to facilitate penetration and augering, consider control and gait underground, and develop new technologies for the exploration of difficult environments such as Antarctica. This allows us to support impactful science on Earth and provides us with a planetary analogue environment to prepare for the exploration of space. When this is combined with our access to the ESA plume-regolith facility, which can be used for regolith experiments, we are well-placed to support the development of tools for discovery and ISRU on moon and Mars.

Our project methodology

Exploration is technically challenging, and terrain seldom behaves as expected. We carry out extensive field test at sites including hot deserts, cold deserts, and both surface and subsurface exposures.

Our project achievements

Watch a complete drillstring assembly, sample acquisition, and disassembly cycle here: