Optimization of the InSight HP³-Mole

Abstract

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is providing the HP³-payload for the InSight-Mission of NASA. InSight is the 12th part of the Discovery program and is supposed to investigate the seismic activities, geodesy and heat transport of the interior of the mars [RD 13]. HP³ is the abbreviation for Heat Flow & Physical Properties Package. It consists of a heat probe that will measure the heat flow of the mars in depths of up to five meters. To get the probe there it is integrated in the HP³-Mole. The HP³-Mole is a non-rotating drill that acts like a self-hammering nail. An internal hammering mechanism, which is a three mass system, is pushing the Mole with every stroke deeper in the Martian soil. These three masses are linked to each other via two springs. In this thesis, several methods of improving the advancing speed of the Mole are investigated. The changes that provide a high enhancement will be integrated in the Prototype-Model, resp. the Engineering-Model of the Mole.