Notice of Intent to Conduct a Mars Analog Drilling Field
Test/Demonstration

The Mars Exploration Program (NASA/JPL) announces its intent to sponsor
a field test/demonstration for robotic drills designed for use at Mars
(and/or the Moon). This field test will be part of a periodic series of
Earth field tests at Mars analog sites that are collectively intended to
support the progressive development of subsurface access systems, and to
establish the necessary confidence by mission planners in such systems.

# Tentative Test logistics

-   Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

-   Timing: between December, 2005 and February, 2006

-   Local Host: Idaho National Lab (INL)

-   Specific site: INL is considering making available the ground
    adjacent to one of their engineering buildings in Idaho Falls. The
    building has garage-style doors and the space in front and behind is
    paved with asphalt. Our intent is that the drilling teams will drill
    either from the edge of the asphalt, or in the field adjacent to the
    asphalt.

-   Geology: The geology at this site consists of layered basalt flows
    with variable amounts of vesiculation (Snake River Basalt) that are
    overlain by about 0.5 m of unconsolidated loess. There is a
    groundwater monitoring well adjacent to the site, and the water
    table is at \~40 m\--it is expected that the drilling conditions
    will be dry to a depth of at least 20 m. Note that this kind of
    geology is a credible analog for both Mars and the Moon.

-   Infrastructure: Inside the building: Electricity (110V and 220V),
    restrooms, telephone, heat (note the winter timing), Outside the
    building: temporary shelter for drilling, parking, site security.
    Drilling teams may maintain some privacy from competitors by using a
    tent at their drilling site, but assume that the teams will need to
    share the indoor facilities.

-   Duration: Our intent is that INL will make their facility available
    for this test for a period no longer than 10-14 days. To simplify
    local logistics for our host, all drilling teams will need to be
    active during the same period.

Our current intent is to release an announcement in August 2005 inviting
participation in this test. Participants selected for this field
activity will be expected to test highly-developed (TRL 4-5), deep (5 --
20 m) drills that are capable of acquiring core samples (about 1 cm
diameter, 10 cm segments). The prototype system must operate in a highly
autonomous fashion. The system must also be shown to be compatible with
flight-like power & mass constraints. Selection of participants will be
based on relevance of the drilling/sampling system to future missions
and readiness for field testing. Readiness level must be supported with
test results from lab and/or field tests.

Our plan is to make participation in this test/demonstration open to
international colleagues.

We are tentatively planning two additional field tests over the next two
years, although the timing has not been finalized and the specific sites
have not been identified. The goals of this field test series are
summarized here:

+--------------------+------------------+---------+---------+--------+
|                    | Target material/ | Level   | P       | M      |
|                    | depth            | of      | ower^2^ | ass^3^ |
|                    |                  | Auto    |         |        |
|                    |                  | nomy^1^ |         |        |
+--------------------+------------------+---------+---------+--------+
| Field Test -       | Hard basalt/ 20  | A1      | 80 W    | 40 kg  |
|                    | m                |         |         |        |
| Winter 2005/2006   |                  |         |         |        |
+--------------------+------------------+---------+---------+--------+
| Field Test - Fall  | Icy permafrost & | A2      | 80 W    | 40 kg  |
| 2006               | rock/ 20 m       |         |         |        |
+--------------------+------------------+---------+---------+--------+
| Field Test -       | Hard             | A2      | 80 W    | 40 kg  |
| Spring 2007        | heterogeneous    |         |         |        |
|                    | rocks &          |         |         |        |
|                    | regolith/ 20 m   |         |         |        |
+--------------------+------------------+---------+---------+--------+

^1^See autonomy definitions below.

^2^Flight-like power may be partially demonstrated and supported by
analysis.

^3^Flight-like mass may be achieved by analysis.

So that both the Mars Technology Program and INL can further refine the
planning, we request that non-binding expressions of interest be sent to
Suparna Mukherjee, who will also answer questions regarding these field
tests (<Suparna.Mukherjee@jpl.nasa.gov>, 818-393-3312). For reference,
this document may be accessed on the web at
<http://mepag/Mars_Community/index.html>.

Deep Drill Autonomy Definitions:

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