Title
Robotic Instrument for Grinding Rocks into Thin Sections (GRITS)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Abstract
We have developed a rock grinding and polishing mechanism for in situ planetary exploration based on abrasive disks, called Grinding Rocks Into Thin Sections (GRITS). Performance characteristics and design considerations of GRITS are presented. GRITS was developed as part of a broader effort to develop an in situ automated rock thin section (ISARTS) instrument. The objective of IS-ARTS was to develop an instrument capable of producing petrographic rock thin sections on a planetary science spacecraft. GRITS may also be useful to other planetary science missions with in situ instruments in which rock surface preparation are necessary. © 2012 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Advances in Space Research
First Page
2181
Last Page
2193
Recommended Citation
Paulsen, G., Zacny, K., Dreyer, C., Szucs, A., Szczesiak, M., Santoro, C., Craft, J., Hedlund, M., & Skok, J. (2013). Robotic Instrument for Grinding Rocks into Thin Sections (GRITS). Advances in Space Research, 51 (11), 2181-2193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2013.01.001