MURDOCH , Naomi

We study rover-regolith interactions in low-gravity environments by conducting soft-sphere discrete element method (SSDEM) simulations with a simplified rover wheel and a bed of spherical particles. The simulations reveal that rover performance scales according to the Froude number, or a dimensionless parameter which accounts for the size of...

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is frequently used to model complex granular systems and to augment the knowledge that we obtain through theory, experimentation, and real-world observations. Numerical simulations are a particularly powerful tool for studying the regolith covered surfaces of asteroids, comets, and small moons, where...

We conduct experiments using a single-wheel testbed and simulations using the Soft-Sphere Discrete Element Method to study wheel-regolith interactions on small-body surfaces. We analyze wheel sinkage and traction on different surface materials and we discuss the influence that lowgravity has on rover maneuverability.

Context. Slow interactions on small body surfaces occur both naturally and through human intervention. The resettling of grains and boulders following a cratering event, as well as observations made during small body missions, can provide clues regarding the material properties and the physical evolution of a surface. In order to analyze such...

With the flourishing number of small body missions that involve surface interactions,understanding the mechanics of spacecraft - surface interactions is crucial for improving ourknowledge about the landing phases of space missions, for preparing spacecraft operations,and for interpreting the results of measurements made during the surface...

Despite their very lowsurface gravities, asteroids exhibit a number of different geological processes involving granular matter. Understanding the response of this granular material subject to external forces in microgravity conditions is vital to the design of a successful asteroid sub-surface sampling mechanism, and in the interpretation of...

The Mars Moon eXploration (MMX) mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, which is going to explore the Martian Moons Phobos and Deimos and also return samples from Phobos back to Earth will also deliver a small (about 25 kg) Rover to the surface of Phobos. The payload of this rover consists of a Raman spectrometer (RAX) to...

Asteroids and other Small Solar System Bodies (SSSBs) are currently of great scientific and even industrial interest. Asteroids exist as the permanent record of the formation of the Solar System and therefore hold many clues to its understanding as a whole, as well as insights into the formation of planetary bodies. Additionally, SSSBs are...

Hera provides a robust and cost-effective means to perform a planetary defense validation test with a solid balance between risk and innovation. In the frame of the AIDA collaboration, Hera contributes to a truly international planetary defense initiative. It will bring completely new knowledge and insights on asteroid science that will be of...

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Planetary defense efforts rely on estimates of the mechanical properties of asteroids, which are difficult to constrain accurately from Earth. The mechanical properties of asteroid material are also important in the interpretation of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact. Here we perform a detailed morphological analysis of the...

Abstract The Japanese MMX sample return mission to Phobos by JAXA will carry a rover developed by CNES and DLR that will be deployed on Phobos to perform in situ analysis of the Martian moon's surface properties. Past images of the surface of Phobos show that it is covered by a layer of regolith. However, the mechanical and compositional...

The European component of the joint ESA-NASA Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment (AIDA) mission has been redesigned from the original version called Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM), and is now called Hera. The main objectives of AIDA are twofold: (1) to perform an asteroid deflection test by means of a kinetic impactor under detailed study at...