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Wireline Technology May Head to Space Adapted from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space may very well be the final frontier for exploration efforts, but the ability to penetrate subsurfaces and collect pure samples is critical for future exploration of our solar system. The SMD (science mission directorate) is supporting development of a deep-drill sampler called the Auto-Gopher. The Auto-Gopher uses a piezoelectric-actuated percussive mechanism to break formations and an electric motor to rotate the drill bit and capture the cuttings. Using a wireline architecture, the drill is suspended at the end of a small- diameter tether which provides power, communication, and structur- al support necessary for lowering and lifting the drill out of the bore- hole. This unique design means the maximum drilling depth is limited only by the length of the tether. Traditional continuous drill string systems often require mul- tiple drill sections, but the wireline system used on the Auto-Gopher removes the need for multiple drill sections. The system mass and volume can be kept quite low for shallow or deep holes. While drilling, numerous sensors and embedded instruments can perform in situ analysis of the borehole wall. Once it reaches the preset depth, the drill is retracted from the borehole, the core and/or cuttings are removed for analysis by onboard instruments, and the drill is lowered back into the hole to continue the drilling process. The Auto-Gopher is intended to help NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) exploration missions target- ting bodies in the solar system which are known to have or have had flowing liquid water, a necessary element for life as we know it. The latest Planetary Decadal Survey recommended NASA explore three solar system bodies with accessible aque- ous regions: Mars; Jupiter’s moon, Europa; and Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. Each of these bodies has different drilling-related challenges. Drilling on Mars requires drilling in dry rock and regolith with physical properties (i.e., tensile strength, hardness, etc.) which can vary through the drill depth. Drills operating on Enceladus and Europa will need to operate in ice at temper- atures below -279ºF (-173ºC), while accounting for the low gravity on Enceladus or the high surface radiation on Europa. The Auto-Gopher must be designed to achieve its goals of penetrating the subsurface to great depths, capturing pristine samples, and delivering those samples to onboard instruments for analysis or potential sample return - all in the harsh conditions encountered in space. The purpose of the Auto-Gopher development is to demonstrate scalable technology which can make deep drilling possible using current launch vehicles and power sources. This tech- nology has been accomplished in sever- al generations and this latest drill is also being designed to house electronics, sensors, and mechanisms needed for autonomous dri l l ing. To val idate the drill’s ability to operate in harsh condi- tions, field trials at a U.S. gypsum quarry (gypsum can change from hard crys- talline gypsum, to soft sugar gypsum, to very hard anhydrite with numerous clay- rich veins) has been planned. Additional testing wi l l happen inside a vacuum chamber drilling in ice at approximately -148ºF (-100°C). 4< /*2'3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ !@ @ < < < < < Todd Tannehill, former vice pres- ident of CETCO Drilling Products (a division of Mineral Technologies Inc.), has recently opened his veteran-owned business - Mud & More, LLC. The com- pany sells direct to contractors in the HDD and foundation markets. Mud & More is also a manufac- turer’s representative for product lines sold to the water well, geother- mal, environmental, and sewage in- dustries. For a link to the Mud & More website, visit our online issue at worldwidedrillingresource.com 22 DECEMBER 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®