Automatic Chemical Processing Systems for Extraterrestrial Biochemical Investigations

Implementing the concept of planetary exploration is a formidable task. Laboratory procedures and techniques that are performed routinely by scientists and technicians must be performed remotely, automatically, and reliably for long periods of time without direct human intervention. The subtle and sophisticated reasoning, planning, and execution that lies behind well-conducted research in terrestrial laboratories must be incorporated into the careful original design and mechanization of extraterrestrial experiments. Mechanisms capable of automation for use in batch chemical processing of surface samples for scientific payloads have been devised and tested. Elemental processing operations common to a wide variety of possible life detection and biochemical characterization experiments were identified. It was determined that one device could perform a multiplicity of analyses if it could perform a limited number of elemental processing operations. Mechanisms were then designed for performing such elemental processing operations, and a breadboard processing device was fabricated incorporating the various processing operations, some completely automated (such as reagent metering) and others manually operated. The tremendous flexibility of the device to perform a wide variety of chemical procedures is evident. Tests of the breadboard in performing aqueous and organic extractions of soil samples indicate that completely automated, flight worthy chemical processing systems possessing great experimental flexibility are feasible and reliable