Planets and Moons ID: 10813

NASA Developing Comet Harpoon for Sample Return

Released on December 13, 2011

Since the beginning of the space age NASA has explored our solar system, bringing back unprecedented scientific knowledge. However only a handful of missions over the past 50 years have actually collected and returned samples from these far off places.

Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. are in the early stages of working out the best design for a sample-collecting comet harpoon.

The Comet Nucleus Sample Return mission will collect subsurface samples from a comet and return them to Earth. Comets and asteroids are leftover remnants from the early solar system and by studying samples from these objects, we can learn more about the formation of our solar system and may find clues to the origin of life on Earth.

For complete transcript, click here.

As the harpoon penetrates into the comet, it fills its inner sample cartridge with subsurface material as it goes deeper. When it reaches its maximum depth the sample cartridge closure mechanism shuts, trapping all the material inside it. The sample cartridge is then withdrawn from the outer harpoon sheath and pulled back into the spacecraft.

The sample is then brought back to a terrestrial laboratory where scientists examine the collected samples in a pristine environment.

Many designs have been tested for penetration depth in several different material. This design is the most promising.

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/features/2011/comet-harpoon.html

Credits

Chris Meaney (HTSI): Lead Animator
Walt Feimer (HTSI): Animator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Video Editor
Donald C Wegel (NASA/GSFC): Narrator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Producer
Joseph A Nuth (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Donald C Wegel (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Project Support
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Videographer
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Writer
Donald C Wegel (NASA/GSFC): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

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This item is part of this series:
Narrated Movies

Goddard TV Tape:
G2011-054 -- The Comet Nucleus Sample Return Mission

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Technology
DLESE >> Narrated
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons