Orientation Mechanism for the Mars Sample Return Mission Capture and Containment Return System

NASA established the Mars Sample Return mission (MSR)[1,2] with the goal of returning samples collected by the Mars Perseverance rover. 30 sample tubes are placed in a container known as the Orbiting Sample (OS), which is launched into orbit by the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) aboard the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL). In orbit, the OS is intercepted and ingested by the return phase of the mission known as the Capture, Containment and Return System (CCRS). Once captured by CCRS, the OS is prepared for Earth entry via several specialized mechanisms such as the Orientation Mechanism (OM). The OM is a six degree of freedom device that positions and orients the OS for a precise transfer to a capsule, known as the Earth Entry Vehicle (EEV). The EEV provides atmospheric entry, descent and landing at Earth. This paper describes the development of the OM using test results from various test apparatus including a Neutral Buoyancy Tank (NBT).