Deep-Hole Soil-Sampling Tools for Future Russian Lunar Polar Missions

M. L. Litvak^a^, *, A. V. Nosov^a, T. O. Kozlova^a, V. I. Mikhal’skii^a, A. S. Perkhov^a, and V. I. Tret’yakov^a

^aSpace Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russia

Correspondence to: *e-mail: litvak@mx.iki.rssi.ru

Received 7 November, 2019

Abstract—The review of both previously used lunar deep-hole soil-sampling tools (DSSTs) and new prototypes of these devices, developed for exploring the lunar polar regolith in future lunar projects, is presented, and the DSST options with different technical parameters and layout arrangements intended for future Russian lunar missions are also considered.

Keywords: Moon, polar regions, cryogenic drilling, volatile substances

DOI: 10.1134/S0038094620030089