Cryogenic deformation of two comet and asteroid analogs under varying conditions of saturation

Abstract

Sample retrieval from extraterrestrial bodies and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities have been identified as some of the most important scientific endeavors of the coming decade. With the failure of Rosetta's Philae lander to penetrate the surface of comet 67P and obtain a sample due to the high compressive strength of the surface, it is becoming obvious that knowledge of the mechanical properties of materials that might be encountered in such environments and under such conditions is critical to future mission success. Two comet/asteroid analogs (Indiana limestone and Bishop tuff), selected based on their contrasting mechanical properties and porosities, were tested under constant displacement to failure (in most cases) at extraterrestrial conditions of cryogenic temperatures (295 K down to 77 K) and light confining pressures (1 to 5 MPa). The compressive strength of both materials was determined under varied conditions of saturation, from oven-dried (~0% water content) to fully saturated, and both brittle and ductile behavior was observed. The saturated limestone increased in strength from -30 MPa (at 295 K) to >200 MPa (at 77 K), while the Bishop tuff increased in strength from 13 MPa at 295 K to 165 MPa at 150 K. Additional experiments demonstrated that thermal cycling reduces the compressive strength of limestone, while an increase in confining pressure from 5 MPa to 30 MPa at 200 K significantly increases the strength (from 62 MPa to 85 MPa respectively) of saturated tuff. The results of this study will be useful to future sample retrieval missions or ISRU maneuvers. The large increase in compressive strength of these saturated materials at cryogenic temperatures means that future missions will need to prepare technology that has the energetic and mechanical capability to penetrate very hard substrates as they are likely to encounter.