Objective The Ultrasonic Planetary Core Drill project seeks to build a space-compatible tool that can extract samples of rock from up to 30 cm beneath the surface and then containerise them for caching or return to Earth. This tool will be developed by a consortium led by the University of Glasgow (UK) and supported by Space Systems Finland (Finland), LIDAX (Spain) and Magna Parva (UK). The University of Glasgow will provide expertise in the field of ultrasonic drilling, which is used to penetrate rock without generating large reaction forces and thus enables deployment of the UPCD from a small lander. Space Systems Finland will provide software that will enable autonomous operations of the device, which will be essential for sample preservation, LIDAX will produce a deployment system to permit highly repeatable operations, and Magna Parva will carry out the vital systems engineering functions.The focus of the UPCD project will be a field trial in an analogue site, namely the active permafrost of Alexander Island, Antarctic. This volatile-bearing rock is exceptionally Mars-like and it is a key objective of the UPCD project to extract and containerise samples with the volatiles still intact. Ultrasonic drilling with its high downhole efficiency and supported autonomous sample health monitoring, offers drilling without elevating the sample temperature, thus reducing drive-off of the compounds that could tell us so much about the history of water on other planets.These experiments will only be possible, and the results only meaningfully analysed, if we are confident that the drill site is representative of volatile-bearing rocks and that the containerised samples contain the volatiles we seek. The engineering team at the trials will be accompanied by a scientist specialising in the history of water in the solar system, to ensure selection of appropriate drill sites and to evaluate the quality of the samples we extract. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwarehumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets Programme(s) FP7-SPACE - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Space Topic(s) SPA.2013.2.1-02 - Earth-analogue research preparing for space exploration Call for proposal FP7-SPACE-2013-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW EU contribution € 936 177,00 Address UNIVERSITY AVENUE G12 8QQ Glasgow United Kingdom See on map Region Scotland West Central Scotland Glasgow City Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Adriana Scicluna (Ms) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all SPACE SYSTEMS FINLAND OY Finland EU contribution € 489 928,00 Address KAPPELITIE 6 02200 ESPOO See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Matti Anttila (Dr) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data LIDAX INGENIERIA S.L. Spain EU contribution € 545 501,00 Address AVENIDA CRISTOBAL COLON 16 - 1 IZ 28850 TORREJON DE ARDOZ See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jesus Aivar (Mr) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MAGNA PARVA LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 388 638,00 Address MERIDIAN SOUTH - MERIDIAN BUSINESS PARK 2 LE19 1WY LEICESTER See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Andy Bowyer (Mr) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data
