We designed a system to collect metal and rock samples from the surface of asteroid Psyche, supporting NASA’s Psyche mission to study a rare, metal-rich asteroid that may be the exposed core of an early planetesimal. Learning about Psyche helps scientists understand how planets form and evolve. Our goal was to gather useful samples from different surfaces and keep them clean and secure. We worked with Senior Design Team 502, which focused on returning the samples to Earth, so our system needed to pass each sample safely and reliably to the return system.
Our system collects samples, stores them, and prepares them for transfer. The design had to function in space conditions including microgravity, extreme cold, and vacuum. To meet these challenges, we studied past missions such as OSIRIS-REx and Mars rover sampling systems, then adapted their methods to a metal-rich surface.
We built and tested a prototype on Earth using materials and setups that matched what we expected to find on Psyche. The prototype combines drilling with a short gas release to collect both loose dust and solid pieces. This method limits sample loss and reduced mixing between sites. The design stores several samples, keeps each one sealed, and measures how much material was collected.
The project demonstrates a small, automated system that can support future missions to metal-rich asteroids. The system provides a clear path for collecting clean, well-preserved samples that help scientists learn how planets form and change over time.
