Research of Drilling and Sampling Technique for Lunar Polar Region Exploration

Abstract

According to China’s lunar exploration program，after completing lunar soil sample return mission of Chang’E-5，in-situ exploration and sample return exploration will be carried out for the lunar polar region，and the exploration of material composition，resource distribution and existing form in the lunar polar region will be important scientific objectives for the follow-up lunar exploration missions. Because of the special environmental characteristics of the lunar polar region，there is a great possibility of the existence of water-bearing lunar soils in the form of icy soil. The study of sampling technology for such objects will strongly support the demonstration and implementation of future lunar exploration missions，which has great engineering significance. Based on the investigation and analysis of the characteristics of the lunar polar region and the sampling techniques of lunar icy soil，the key drilling and sampling techniques of the lunar icy soil in the polar region are proposed，and the key technical approaches are clarified. The design idea of samplers for both in-situ detection mission and sample return mission is proposed，and the research progress is introduced.

Keywords

lunar polar region / water ice / icy soil / drilling and sampling technique