(machine whirs)
(air whooshes)
(mysterious light music)
- In terms of robots that go into space,
the sampling and caching
system on the Mars 2020 Mission
is the most complicated,
most sophisticated thing
that we know how to build.
This is a system that allows us
to take core samples of rocky material
on the surface of Mars,
carefully seal them in very
sterile, clean vessels,
for eventual return to Earth.
We've been working on the
sampling and caching system
for seven years,
and that's because it's a tough job.
- We're testing the equipment
to make sure that it's going
to work, when we get to Mars.
It has to function on its own.
We have to think of all
eventual possibilities,
and try them here first.
And then, if they don't work,
change it now,
because we can't make any changes later.
- To drill into the rock on Mars,
pull out intact core samples,
seal them hermetically,
and to be all done
autonomously by a robot,
hanging off the end of a rover,
on the surface of Mars,
has been a challenge.
We've got actually three robots necessary
to do the sample and caching systems.
Our big robotic arm, out
on the front of the rover?
That takes our drill, pushes
it against the surface.
It allows us to take core samples.
Then, we put that core
sample in the bit carouselー
the second robot,
that takes that from the robot arm,
and puts it down, inside
our adaptive caching system.
This is the part of the
sample and caching system
inside the rover.
We've got a little tiny robot,
a special robot arm, called the SHA.
The sample handling arm.
It takes the samples
out of the bit carousel,
and moves them through volume-assessment,
image-taking, and eventually, to sealing,
and then, replaces the
cylinder containing the sample
in a storage spot,
all on its own, in the
matter of a few hours.
We have designed on bringing
them back in a decade.
Mars has been at the
fore of our consciousness
about the questions of life.
Could life exist at one
of our nearest neighbors?
I think we have a lot to
learnーlife or no lifeー
about the evolution of our solar system,
about our planet,
by looking in-depth at rocks
brought back from Mars.
(atmospheric ambient music)
