초록 ▼

Devices and methods for detection of evidence of life or ore bodies on or near the surface of extraterrestrial bodies (e.g., Mars) are described. In particular, a ground penetrating probe capable of s conducting life detection or other experiments and transmitting the data from the experiments to a

Devices and methods for detection of evidence of life or ore bodies on or near the surface of extraterrestrial bodies (e.g., Mars) are described. In particular, a ground penetrating probe capable of s conducting life detection or other experiments and transmitting the data from the experiments to a satellite relay is described. Methods of use for such devices and apparatus are described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body, comprising, a penetrator, wherein the penetrator comprises: a plurality of body sections; an equipment payload, wherein the equipment payload is housed within at least one of the body sections, wherein the equipment payload comprises a

1. A probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body, comprising, a penetrator, wherein the penetrator comprises: a plurality of body sections; an equipment payload, wherein the equipment payload is housed within at least one of the body sections, wherein the equipment payload comprises a scientific equipment package, wherein the scientific equipment package comprises at least one piece of scientific equipment, wherein the at least one piece of scientific equipment is configured to detect at the celestial body at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell as part of a life detection experiment, wherein the celestial body is an extraterrestrial body with respect to a terrestrial body at which the probe is manufactured; anda sampling device, wherein the sampling device is configured to obtain material of the celestial body and move the material to the piece of scientific equipment to undergo the life detection of at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell;an antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating is applied to an internal surface of the penetrator to promote biological sterility and reduce nucleic acid contamination prior to conducting the life detection experiment to improve data quality of the life detection experiment, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating comprises at least one of a nuclease and an antimicrobial biomolecule to enable degradation of at least one of a contaminating nucleic acid and a contaminating living cell imparted upon the penetrator at the terrestrial body that may produce a false positive result in the life detection experiment during said detection of the at least one of the nucleic acid and the metabolism of the living cell;a communication device operatively connected to the piece of scientific equipment to electromagnetically transmit the results of the life detection experiment;a microprocessor operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package and the communication device; andan electrical power system operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package, the communication device, and the microprocessor, wherein the power system comprises a battery. 2. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the communication package electromagnetically transmit the results of the life detection experiment to a communication network, wherein the communication network comprises at least one selected from a ground based relay, an atmosphere borne relay, a space based relay, and an Earth based satellite dish, wherein the ground based relay comprises at least one selected from a lander and another penetrator, wherein the atmosphere borne relay comprises at least one selected from a balloon, a drone, and a sub-orbital craft, and wherein the space based relay comprises at least one selected from a satellite, and an orbiting spacecraft. 3. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the scientific equipment package comprises at least one additional piece of equipment configured to detect life, measure ground movements, measure thermal levels, or determine size and shape of the celestial body and exact positions of points on its surface and with description of variations of its gravity field. 4. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a plurality of communication devices. 5. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the electrical power system further comprises at least one of a solar panel, a thermoelectric generator, and a windmill. 6. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the penetrator comprises a depth achievement device, wherein the depth achievement device comprises: at least one explosive charge operatively associated with a forward body section of the penetrator that detonates upon or after impact of the penetrator with the celestial body's surface, a drill operatively associated with the forward body section of the penetrator, another penetrator that impacts the same location of the surface of the celestial body prior to impact of the penetrator, and a bomb that impacts and detonates at the same location of the surface of the celestial body prior to impact of the penetrator. 7. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the penetrator further comprises an outer aeroshell to protect the penetrator during atmospheric entry. 8. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the penetrator comprises an engine, wherein the engine comprises: at least one selected from a rocket engine and a jet engine, wherein the engine begins to function at or after release from the spacecraft to move the penetrator to a selected area of surface material of the celestial body to impact, to prevent impact of the penetrator with the surface material of a celestial body at a speed below about 290 kilometers per hour, to function as a depth achievement device at or after impact, or a combination thereof. 9. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the penetrator comprises a descent speed control device to prevent impact of the penetrator with the surface material of a celestial body at a speed in excess of about 1450 kilometers per hour, wherein the descent speed control device comprises at least one selected from a parachute, a rocket engine, and a jet engine. 10. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein penetrator probe targets the surface material of the celestial body impacted by the penetrator probe, wherein the targeted surface material is at least one selected from a lava tube, a cave, a karst, a crater gully, a steep inclined area, or a subsurface deposit of at least one selected from water, oil, a mineral, or an ore. 11. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 1, wherein the penetrator is a plurality of penetrators. 12. The scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body of claim 11, wherein the plurality of penetrators are designed to impact different locations of surface material of the celestial body, wherein at least one penetrator of the plurality of penetrators comprise at least one of a different shape, different hardened material, and different depth achievement device, and different impact damper relative to another penetrator of the plurality of penetrators. 13. A scientific probe for penetrating surface material of a celestial body with a penetrator, wherein the penetrator comprises: a forward-body section, a mid-body section, and an aft-body section, wherein the forward-body section has a shape and hardened material surface conducive to penetrating the surface of a celestial body between about 0.5 meters to about 10 meters upon an impact speed of about 290 kilometers per hour to about 1450 kilometers per hour, wherein the shape is at least one selected from a screw shape, a needle shape, a rounded shape, a pointed shape, and a dart shape, wherein the hardened material comprises at least one material selected from diamond, tungsten, and tungsten carbide,wherein the mid-body section has a generally cylindrical shape to promote aerodynamic motion of the forward-body section toward a celestial body's surface prior to impact,wherein the aft-body section comprises at least one aerodynamic fin to promote aerodynamic motion of the forward-body section toward a celestial body's surface prior to impact, andwherein the length of the penetrator prior to contact with the surface of the celestial body is between about 0.15 meters to about 6 meters;an equipment payload, wherein the equipment payload is housed within at least one of the forward-body section, the mid-body section, and the aft-body section, wherein the equipment payload comprises, a scientific equipment package, wherein the scientific equipment package comprises, at least one piece of scientific equipment, wherein the at least one piece of scientific equipment is configured to detect at the celestial body at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell as part of a life detection experiment, wherein the celestial body is an extraterrestrial body with respect to a terrestrial body at which the probe is manufactured;a sampling device, wherein the sampling device is configured to obtain material of the celestial body and move the material to the piece of scientific equipment to undergo the detection of at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell;an impact damper to reduce impact damage to other parts of the equipment payload, wherein the impact damper is at least one selected from an air-bag device, a spring, and a shock absorber,a communication device operatively connected to the piece of scientific equipment to electromagnetically transmit the results of the life detection experiment, wherein the communication device comprises, a radio transmitter,an antenna capable of electromagnetically transmitting the results of the life detection experiment,the umbilical wire connecting the mid-body section to the aft-body section, wherein the umbilical wire is operatively associated with the at least one of the scientific equipment package and the antenna;a microprocessor operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package and the communication device;an electrical power system operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package, the communication device, and the microprocessor, wherein the power system comprises a battery; andwherein the penetrator is capable of being operatively associated with a spacecraft, wherein the spacecraft positions the penetrator above the surface material of celestial body and then the penetrator is released so to impact the surface material of the celestial body, wherein the penetrator comprises: an antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating is applied to an internal surface of the penetrator to promote biological sterility and reduce nucleic acid contamination prior to conducting the life detection experiment to improve data quality of the life detection experiment, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating comprises at least one of a nuclease and an antimicrobial biomolecule to enable degradation of at least one of a contaminating nucleic acid and a contaminating living cell imparted upon the penetrator at the terrestrial body that may produce a false positive result in the life detection experiment during said seeking to detect the at least one of the nucleic acid and the metabolism of the living cell,wherein the penetrator penetrates about 1 meter to about 10 meters deep in a celestial body to allow the sampling device to obtain material of the celestial body from at least 1 meter below the surface of the celestial body prior to conducting the life detection experiment,wherein the antenna is operatively associated with the aft-body section, andwherein the aft-body section separates from the mid-body section upon penetration of the mid-body section into the surface of the celestial body due to the aerodynamic fin impeding penetration of the aft-body section upon contact with the surface of the celestial body so the antenna is located above, at or near the surface of the celestial body upon rest after contact with the surface of the celestial body to promote transmission of the results of the life detection experiment. 14. A method for penetrating surface material of a celestial body, comprising: assembling a penetrator that comprises a forward-body section, a mid-body section, and an aft-body section, wherein the forward-body section has a shape and hardened material surface conducive to penetrating the surface of a celestial body between about 0.5 meters to about 10 meters upon an impact speed of about 290 kilometers per hour to about 1450 kilometers per hour, wherein the shape is at least one selected from a screw shape, a needle shape, a rounded shape, a pointed shape, and a dart shape, wherein the hardened material comprises at least one material selected from diamond, tungsten, and tungsten carbide,wherein the mid-body section has a generally cylindrical shape to promote aerodynamic motion of the forward-body section toward a celestial body's surface prior to impact,wherein the aft-body section comprises at least one aerodynamic fin to promote aerodynamic motion of the forward-body section toward a celestial body's surface at an angle between about 90 degrees perpendicular to about 45 degrees to the celestial body's surface prior to impact to promote penetration upon impact with the celestial body's surface, wherein the aft-body section separates from the mid-body section upon penetration of the mid-body section into the surface of the celestial body due to the aerodynamic fin impeding penetration of the aft-body section upon contact with the surface of the celestial body so part or all of the aft-body section is located above, at or near the surface of the celestial body upon the end of impact driven forward motion after contact with the surface of the celestial body, andwherein the length of the penetrator prior to contact with the surface of the celestial body is between about 0.15 meters to about 6 meters;incorporating into the penetrator an equipment payload, wherein the equipment payload is housed within at least one of the forward-body section, the mid-body section, and the aft-body section, wherein the equipment payload comprises, an impact damper to reduce impact damage to other parts of the equipment payload, wherein the impact damper is at least one selected from an air-bag device, a spring, and a shock absorber,a scientific equipment package, wherein the scientific equipment package comprises, at least one piece of scientific equipment, wherein the at least one piece of scientific equipment is configured to detect at the celestial body at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell as part of a life detection experiment, wherein the celestial body is an extraterrestrial body with respect to a terrestrial body at which the probe is manufacture;a sampling device, wherein the sampling device is configured to obtain material of the celestial body and move the material to the piece of scientific equipment to undergo the life detection of at least one of a nucleic acid and metabolism of a living cell, and wherein the sampling device accesses the material of the celestial body through an opening in a housing of the penetrator between the mid-body section and the aft-body section created by the separation of those sections after impact with the celestial body's surface;an antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating is applied to an internal surface of the penetrator to promote biological sterility and reduce nucleic acid contamination prior to conducting the life detection experiment to improve data quality of the life detection experiment, wherein the antimicrobial and anti-nucleic acid coating comprises at least one of a nuclease and an antimicrobial biomolecule to enable degradation of at least one of a contaminating nucleic acid and a contaminating living cell imparted upon the penetrator at the terrestrial body that may produce a false positive result in the life detection experiment during said seeking to detect the at least one of the nucleic acid and the metabolism of the living cell,a communication device operatively connected to the piece of scientific equipment to electromagnetically transmit the results of the life detection experiment, wherein the communication device comprises, a radio transmitter,an antenna capable of electromagnetically transmitting the results of the life detection experiment, wherein the antenna is operatively associated with the aft-body section so the antenna is located above, at or near the surface of the celestial body upon rest after contact with the surface of the celestial body to promote transmission of the results of the life detection experiment,the umbilical wire connecting the mid-body section to the aft-body section, wherein the umbilical wire is operatively associated with the at least one of the scientific equipment package and the antenna;a microprocessor operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package and the communication device;an electrical power system operatively associated with at least one of the scientific equipment package, the communication device, and the microprocessor, wherein the power system comprises a battery; andwherein the penetrator is capable of being operatively associated with a spacecraft, wherein the spacecraft positions the penetrator above the surface material of celestial body and then the penetrator is released so to impact the surface material of the celestial body and penetrate about 1 meter to about 10 meters deep in the celestial body to allow the sampling device to obtain material of the celestial body from at least 1 meter below the surface of the celestial body prior to conducting the life detection experiment.