Abstract
To realize reliable regolith sampling for autonomous operation in space, the authors have developed a new sampling system that employs electrostatic force. This system employs a combination of electrostatic capture and transport of particles. High voltage is applied between parallel screen electrodes of the sampling device. Owing to electrostatic force, particles are captured at the screen electrode of the device. The captured particles are then transported by an electrostatic traveling wave and transferred to a collection capsule. It has been demonstrated that lunar soil simulant can be sampled if the end of the screen electrode is in touch with the regolith for short period, within one second. Because gravity is extremely low on small asteroids, the process of sampling particles on asteroids will be easier than that on the Earth.
