JSC-23454 LESC-26676 CATALOGO F APOLLOL UNAR SURFACEG EOLOGICASLA MPLING TOOLSA ND CONTAINERS JudHiatlhe y Allton Lockheed EanngSdic nieeCenorcmiepnsag n y HousTteoxna,s Mar1c9h8 9 Prepared for NASA/JSC Solar System Exploration Division Contract NAS 9-17900, Job Order J2-J60 N/\5/\ National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas JSC-23454 LESC-26676 CATALOOGF APOLLOL UNAR SURFACEG EOLOGICASLA MPLING TOOLSA ND CONTAINERS JudiHtahlA elyl ton LockhEenegdi naeneSdrc iineCgno cmepsa ny HousTteoxna,s Marc1h9 89 Prepared for NASAJJSC Solar System Exploration Division Contract NAS 9-17900, Job Order J2-J60 N/\5/\ National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas CATALOG OF APOLLO LUNAR SURFACE GEOLOGICAL SAMPLING TOOLS AND CONTAINERS Table of Contents Page 3 FOREWORD 4 INTRODUCTION 5 PART I. DESCRIPTIONS OF TOOLS AND CONTAINERS A.Tools used to collect lunar rocks and soils 6 Contact Soil Sampling Device 8 Contingency soil sampler 10 Core Tube 15 Drill 20 Extension Handle 22 Hammer 24 Lunar rover soil sampler 25 Rake 27 Scoop 31 Tongs 33 Trenching tool B. Tools used to support sample selection and documentation 36 Brush-scriber-lens 37 Gnomon 38 Weight scale 39 C. Tool carriers D. Containers used to package rocks, soils and other samples on the moon 48 Apollo Lunar Sample Return Container (ALSRC) 51 Core Sample Vacuum Container (CSVC) 52 Documented sample bag 57 Gas Analysis Sample Container (GASC) 58 Lunar Environment Sample Container (LESC) 59 Magnetic Shield Sample Container (MSSC) 60 Organic sample monitor bag 61 Protective padded sample bag 62 Special Environment Sample Container (SESC) E. Containers used to carry rocks and soils on the moon 66 Sample collection bag (SCB) 69 Weigh bag 71 PART II. LIST OF TOOLS AND CONTAINERS WITH WEIGHT SUMMARIES FOR EACH APOLLO MISSION 74 Apollo 11 75 Apollo 12 76 Apollo 14 2 78 Apollo 15 80 Apollo 16 82 Apollo 17 84 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 85 REFERENCES 87 APPENDIX Inventory of tools and containers 88 National Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution 94 Public Affairs Office, Johnson Space Center 95 Lunar Sample Curator, Johnson Space Center 97 Technical Services Division, Johnson Space Center InsbiadcekG L OSSARY OF ACRONYMS cover 3 FOREWORD Apollo Among their other monumental milestones, the missions to the Moon achieved the first collection of extraterrestrial materials for return to Earth. Two generations of scientists around the world have dedicated major portions of their lives to study of the 382 kg of rocks and soils that were collected, in total, by the six (Apollo manned expeditions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) during 1969-72. Indeed, availability oflunar samples for laboratory analysis revolutionized planetary science by driving sophistication of both the necessary analytical technology and the interpretive models for origin and evolution of the solar system. Apollo An essential ingredient in the scientific success of was design, fabrication, and operation of tools and containers for collecting and preserving the lunar samples. Major effort was invested in building hardware to meet stringent scientific requirements for non-contamination of samples while remaining within constraints of size, weight, power, and operability by pressure-suited astronauts. Some tools and containers worked very well as originally designed whereas others required revisions, based on experience gained during early missions. In all cases, the devices were operated with the greatest possible skill and resourcefulness by the astronauts on the lunar surface --a factor that is difficult to translate into systems designed for robotic operation. As NASA embarks on its next initiative for exploration of the solar system, geologic sampling missions remain Apollo key features in all scenarios. Accordingly, it is essential that the sampling experience be used to full advantage in planning future sampling activities, whether they be robotic missions or missions piloted by human crews. Regardless of whether the missions aim at the Moon, Mars and its moons (Phobos and Deimos), or more distant targets such as asteroids and comets, all sampling activities will share a certain minimum set of Apollo common goals and problems. represented the first implementation of those goals and the first confrontation with the attendant problems. Although many volumes have been written about scientific results of lunar-sample studies, descriptions of sample tools and containers used on the lunar surface have remained scattered among internal reports that have become more inaccessible with time. This report summarizes the hardware that was used to collect and preserve lunar samples until the time that they were delivered to the receiving laboratory and curatorial facility at the Johnson Space Center. The catalog format was chosen to individually feature tools and containers for engineering purposes, with a minimum amount of ancillary descriptions. Emphasis was placed on summarizing important physical characteristics ( dimensions, weight, power, materials of construction); where known, references to original technical documents are cited. No attempt has been made to chronicle development or testing of the hardware although, when known, experiences that exerted major influence on design or modifications are mentioned. In some cases, the passage of time has been too great and the recoverable information is unavoidably incomplete. Finally, an appendix showing various inventories of flight-spare or prototype devices is included to assist future tool and container designers who might find it important to directly inspect hardware. Although this catalog was conceived and developed· at my initiative and direction, full credit for its successful completion must go to Judy Allton who painstakingly researched, compiled, and remeasured every item to the fullest possible extent. James L. Gooding Solar System Exploration Division NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center February 27, 1989 4 INTRODUCTION Histooftry o aonlcd o ntdaeivneelro pment 2) the packing list for each of the Apollo Lunar Sample Return Containers (ALSRC, the rock boxes) and 3) OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS photographs taken on the lunar surface. The Flight Stowage List details each observable piece of equipment packed into Since the tools and containers used on the moon were the Lunar Module; tools and containers relating to lunar handled by astronauts in space suits, tools had special sampling were identified from the list. Gaps in the data arose operational requirements. Space suit gloves were bulky, because some items were packed inside of others. Since stiff and fatiguing to operate. The sense of touch was tools and containers packed inside of the ALSRC were not greatly diminished. Therefore, large gripping surfaces were itemized on the stowage list, the packing list for the needed. Weight and volume were carefully rationed, so the ALSRC was used to verify these flight objects. Due to tools and containers were made as light-weight as possible. imprecise nomenclature in a few cases, configuration of the Mechanisms were designed to accomodate the abrasive, fine object was deduced from weight compared to a known lunar dust. Materials had to withstand the lunar thermal configuration. Conclusions based on data other than those 0 range of 100 to 380 K. given here are explained in footnotes. In addition, for crew and spacecraft safety NASA had Weights: Most hardware weights cited in this catalog were restrictions on flammability and outgassing characteristics of taken from the Flight Stowage Lists (weights given to the materials carried aboard the Apollo vehicles. nearest 0.1 lb) or the ALSRC packing lists (weights given to the nearest gram). Averages of similar objects were used. SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS Exceptions were made if the weight systematically changed by mission, indicating modification of the object. In this To insure that important scientific analyses were not circumstance, the weight from the latest mission was used, compromised by contamination from the tools or containers, since, presumably, the object was improved in later the scientific community proposed use of certain materials. versions. Weights taken from other sources are footnoted. They recommended that materials for tools and containers be selected to minimize contamination from Pb, U, Th, Li, Be, Dimensions: Engineering drawings provided the dimensions B, K, Rb, Sr, noble gases, rare earths, micro-organisms and for all of the equipment fabricated by NASA and for some of organic compounds. Acceptable materials included the contractor-made hardware. Footnotes indicate if aluminum alloy 6061 and 300 series stainless steel, which dimensions were derived by direct measurement of a typical were the main structural components of tools. Teflon was or a similar object or if the dimensions are estimated. the only acceptable plastic, although Viton was acceptable for backup, exterior seals. MoS2 was agreed upon for a Materials: When specific compounds or alloys are specified, lubricant, as was use of soft indium metal for sealing the data were taken from engineering drawings. General surfaces. In practice fluorosilicone was used instead of descriptive terms like "aluminum" or "teflon" were deduced Viton on the rock box seals. Post-mission sample analyses from the appearance of the object or indirectly from showed that indium interfered with detection of siderophile engineering drawing references to parts being anodized. elements. Exceptions to these data sources are footnoted. Catalog format NOMENCLATURE The information in this catalog was obtained for each tool or container by part name or part number that was assigned by its manufacturer or by the Apollo project. Neither part names nor part numbers were consistent across all data sets. Where practical, tools and containers are grouped by simple names used in earlier literature. Significant variations in configuration are described separately, within the groups, and the names of these configurations were modified by the author to distinguish the physical differences in the objects (lighter weight, shorter, etc.) SOURCES OF INFORMATION Missions: Three basic types of records were used for documenting the flight histories of the tools in this catalog: 1) the Flight Stowage Lists for each mission (except for the Apollo 11 list which could not be located for this study; Sample Information Catalog, Apollo 11 was used instead), 5 PART 1. DESCRIPTIONS OF TOOLS AND CONTAINERS A. TOOLS AND CONTAINERS USED TO COLLECT LUNAR ROCKS AND SOILS Contact Soil Sampling Device Contingency soil sampler Core tube Drill Extension Handle Hammer Lunar rover soil sampler Rake Scoop Tongs Trenching tool 6 CONTA CT SOIL SAMPLING DEVICE Fig. 1 (A ,left) Contact Soil Sampling Device open in the sampling position. (A.right) Device closed for stowage after sampling. (B, left) Device open showing beta cloth sampler. (B, right) Device open showing velvet cloth sampler (NASA photo S72-43792). WEIGHT: 500 g MATERIALS: The devices were identical except for the DIMENSIONS: 17.0 cm box width material comprising the sampling pad. The boxes and the 15.9 cm box length sampling pad supports were aluminum alloy 6061-T6. 4.2 cm box thickness These devices contained more organics and other materials that were typically avoided in lunar sampling tools and containers. Inside the box in the immediate sample DIMENSIONS OF SAMPLE PAD: 9.5 X 10.6 cm environment were: Seal silicone rubber tubing MANUFACTURER: NASA, Johnson Space Center Adhesive primer SS-4120 (General Electric Silicone Products) APOLLO MISSIONS: Two Contact Soil Sampling Devices RTV-102 (General Electric Silicone (Fig. 1) were flown only on Apollo 16 to collect special Products) samples of the uppermost layers of lunar regolith. One Adhesive primer X R5001 (3 M Co.) device had a sampling pad covered with beta cloth, and the EA 954 (Hysol Div., Dexter Corp.) other had a pad covered with velvet. OPERATION: To sample regolith undisturbed by the descent engine on the lunar lander or dirt scattered by human activities, the astronauts cautiously approached a large boulder far away from the lander. They carefully extended the sampler down to the protected surface on the farside of the boulder using a long handle for that purpose [18,26].