FURI | Summer 2020

SCARLESS Sample Return

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SCARLESS is a rover design that utilizes helically grousered wheels to traverse the unknown terrain of small bodies in the solar system. In one direction of travel, these wheels act as screws and are effective in a powdery regolith environment. In the other direction, they act as normal wheels and are robust to rocky terrains. Equipped with cold gas thrusters, SCARLESS can descend onto small bodies where it can navigate and retrieve soil samples. Then, it can reuse the thrusters to return the sample to an orbiter.

Student researcher

Darwin Mick

Darwin P Mick

Mechanical engineering

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2022