Scientific Exploration Subsurface Access Mechanism for Europa (SESAME)
Mechanical Engineer
This is the overall vehicle. The sections are aligned in a train car style. This allows for turning of the vehicle. The power supply is located between the melting/drilling tip to use the excess waste heat to keep the payload sensors at temperature and to decrease the power requirements on the melting tip. Ice melt water is filtered and passed through the vehicle to avoid freezing on the outside of the vehicle. A winch is used in case there are voids that require lowering the vehicle.
This is a connection point between two of the "train cars," it allows for electrical electrical connectors to be run through the vehicle while allowing for turning to avoid obstructions and large voids. The joint is surrounded by metal bellows to keep the vehicle water tight and NASA's wild fabric for strength without compromising turning ability.
Turning involves using targeted melting. There are four quadrants around the drill head that heat parts of the wall. The part of the wall adjacent to the direction can be heated to aid in the turning of the vehicle.
This is the overall vehicle. The sections are aligned in a train car style. This allows for turning of the vehicle. The power supply is located between the melting/drilling tip to use the excess waste heat to keep the payload sensors at temperature and to decrease the power requirements on the melting tip. Ice melt water is filtered and passed through the vehicle to avoid freezing on the outside of the vehicle. A winch is used in case there are voids that require lowering the vehicle.
The Task:
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Create a design for a drilling apparatus that will get through a minimum, 15 kilometers of ice on the surface of Europa to reach the subterranean ocean below in search of life.
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Write a research proposal to NASA to secure funding for developing the design.
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Tools Used:
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Solidworks
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Excel
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Microsoft PowerPoint
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Microsoft Word
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Project Currently:
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The proposal was within the top 5 final proposals but did not win one of the million-dollar research grants.
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My Role:
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Designed components of the drilling and locomotion systems for the proposal
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Researched material properties and methods for drilling into ice at different temperatures.
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Researched ice material properties with a particular interest in their crystalline structures to determine the best method for drilling through the ice.
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Designed a drill head that took into account the years of wear on the face and came up with a solution that would use the wear as an advantage.
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Analyzed heat loss of the power source
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Calculated usability of waste heat for melting probe.
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Calculated the heat required to keep the drilling tip from going into brittle transition temperatures
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Developed a plan for wireless communication to the surface
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Created a design for wireless pucks to form a link to the surface when a cable would likely be cut due to ice movement beneath the surface that is probable to occur due to Jupiter’s gravity.
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Designed turning system for the vehicle
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Created train car-like system that would have the ability to turn to avoid obstacles large voids in the ice.
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Designed seals to protect components in the modular design.
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Download the proposal below.