A unique drill is being tested by NASA. The futuristic drill is in development at Johnson Space Center and is designed to be used on the Moon or Mars. For now, testing is taking place at JSC's 'Mars Yard,' where a lunar-type landscape was created for testing space-bound technology. The lightweight drill package can fit in a container about the size of a suitcase and is attached to a control box to record data. A research team is also testing the specialized drilling rig in the frozen Canadian tundra. The core samples that are extricated there will help scientists understand the geology and biology of the high Arctic, and give the Mars drill a thorough workout. As testing progresses, the drill could ultimately be able to bore several hundred meters in the planetary soil to search for evidence of water.
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NASA ID
ksc_102504_marsdrill
Date Created
October 26, 2004
Center
KSC
Media Type
video
Photographer
NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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