We designed a rover-style payload for the NASA Student Launch mission that collects soil and measures its pH level within 15 minutes after landing. The system operates autonomously, though we could send a signal to begin collection.
Our payload is a compact rover that exits the rocket and lands safely on the ground. Once deployed, the rover drives away from its capsule using a four-wheel system that provides steady motion on uneven soil. The vehicle carries onboard power, control electronics, and sensors that allow it to move without outside assistance. A small shovel mounted underneath the rover stays folded inside the base during launch and descent. After landing, the shovel deploys downward using a linear actuator that positions it for soil collection. The rover then drives forward while the shovel scoops soil into a storage chamber separate from onboard electrical and mechanical components. This chamber holds the collected soil securely so that it does not escape during motion. Once collected, the soil is immediately tested by a sensor inside the storage chamber. The sensor tests the pH level of the soil and transmits it with timestamps to present to NASA for validation.
Within the payload, we secured four model astronauts (“STEMnauts”) in a compartment to protect them during launch and landing from conditions that would be harmful to real-life passengers.
We researched, prototyped, and tested different materials and shapes for the payload body and soil collection device. Our final design is a rover shaped like a half-cylinder, with the shovel and wheels on the flat side, based on construction and farm equipment used to move large amounts of soil. The payload fits within the space and mass constraints established by the rocket team.
