Kinetic penetrator with a retrieval tether

Abstract

A kinetic penetrator includes a tubular body having a first end and a second end, a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, the nose configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume, a retrieval system including a tether, a collector coupled to at least one of the nose and the tubular body, and a sample compartment configured to interface with the collector. The sample compartment is releasably coupled to at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector, and the tether is coupled to the sample compartment and is configured to facilitate removal thereof from the subterranean ground volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kinetic penetrator, comprising:
 a tubular body having a first end and a second end;   a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, wherein the nose is configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume;   a retrieval system including a tether;   a collector coupled to at least one of the nose and the tubular body; and   a sample compartment configured to interface with the collector, wherein the sample compartment is releasably coupled to at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector,   wherein the tether is coupled to the sample compartment and is configured to facilitate removal thereof from the subterranean ground volume.   
     
     
         2 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tubular body and the nose defines an aperture that forms at least a portion of the collector, the aperture configured to receive a flow of material extracted from the subterranean ground volume, wherein the collector is selectively reconfigurable between a closed configuration and a collecting configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 2 , the collector further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is disposed over the aperture when the collector is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 3 , wherein the collector includes a selective sampling control system configured to engage an actuator to selectively reposition the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 4 , wherein the selective sampling control system includes at least one of a remote controller, a timer, and an impact-actuated system. 
     
     
         6 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 2 , wherein the nose includes an edge configured to remove a ground sample from beneath the ground surface, the edge forming at least a portion of the collector, wherein the edge defines the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 6 , wherein the nose includes a second edge configured to remove a ground sample from beneath the ground surface, the second edge forming at least a portion of the collector, wherein the aperture defines a first aperture and the second edge defines a second aperture, and wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are symmetrically spaced on the nose. 
     
     
         8 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 2 , the collector further comprising a scoop, wherein the scoop is movably coupled to a sidewall of the tubular body. 
     
     
         9 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 8 , wherein the collector includes a selective sampling control system configured to engage an actuator to selectively reposition the scoop. 
     
     
         10 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 9 , wherein the selective sampling control system includes at least one of a remote controller, a timer, and an impact-actuated system. 
     
     
         11 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 8 , wherein the scoop is disposed along an outer surface of the tubular body in a closed position, wherein the scoop at least one of extends and rotates outward from the outer surface of the tubular body into an open position to facilitate collecting a ground sample. 
     
     
         12 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 11 , the scoop defining a first scoop, the collector further comprising a second scoop, wherein the second scoop is movably coupled to the sidewall of the tubular body, wherein the first scoop and the second scoop are symmetrically spaced around a periphery of the tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . A kinetic penetrator, comprising:
 a tubular body having a first end and a second end;   a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, wherein the nose is configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume;   a retrieval system including a tether;   a collector coupled to at least one of the nose and the tubular body; and   a plurality of sample compartments configured to interface with the collector, wherein the plurality of sample compartments are at least releasably coupled to at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector,   wherein the tether is coupled to at least one of the tubular body and the plurality of sample compartments and is configured to facilitate removal thereof from the subterranean ground volume.   
     
     
         14 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sample compartments are at least releasably coupled to the at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector in a fixed orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 14 , the collector comprising a fixed distribution device configured to transfer a flow of ground material into the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         16 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 14 , the collector comprising a movable distribution device configured to transfer a flow of ground material into the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         17 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sample compartments are at least releasably and movably coupled to the at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector. 
     
     
         18 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 17 , wherein the collector includes a carriage configured to support the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 18 , wherein the carriage is coupled to the tubular body and configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         20 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 19 , wherein the collector includes an actuator coupled to the carriage and configured to move the carriage to facilitate transferring a flow of ground material into the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         21 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 20 , wherein the collector includes a control system coupled to the actuator, wherein the control system is configured to selectively engage the actuator to move the carriage based on a sensor signal. 
     
     
         22 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one of a timer, a volume sensor, a weight sensor, and a fill height sensor configured to provide the sensor signal. 
     
     
         23 . A kinetic penetrator, comprising:
 a tubular body having a first end and a second end;   a nose coupled to the first end of the tubular body, wherein the nose is configured to penetrate a ground surface and subsurface materials of a subterranean ground volume, wherein the nose defines an aperture configured to receive a flow of material extracted from the subterranean ground volume;   a retrieval system including a tether;   a collector comprising the aperture defined by the nose; and   a sample compartment configured to receive and store the flow of material, wherein the tether is coupled to at least one of the tubular body and the sample compartment and is configured to facilitate removal thereof from the subterranean ground volume.   
     
     
         24 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 23 , the collector further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is disposed over the aperture when the collector is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 24 , wherein the collector includes a selective sampling control system configured to engage an actuator to selectively reposition the cover. 
     
     
         26 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 25 , wherein the selective sampling control system includes one of a remote controller, a timer, and an impact-actuated system. 
     
     
         27 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 23 , wherein the nose includes an edge configured to remove a ground sample from beneath the ground surface, the edge forming at least a portion of the collector, wherein the edge defines the aperture. 
     
     
         28 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 27 , wherein the nose includes a second edge configured to remove a ground sample from beneath the ground surface, the second edge forming at least a portion of the collector, wherein the aperture defines a first aperture and the second edge defines a second aperture, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are symmetrically spaced on the nose. 
     
     
         29 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 23 , wherein the sample compartment is at least releasably coupled to the at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector in a fixed orientation. 
     
     
         30 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 29 , the collector comprising a fixed distribution device configured to transfer a flow of ground material into the sample compartment. 
     
     
         31 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 23 , wherein the sample compartment is at least releasably and movably coupled to the at least one of the tubular body, the nose, and the collector. 
     
     
         32 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of sample compartments, wherein the collector includes a carriage configured to support the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         33 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 32 , wherein the carriage is coupled to the tubular body and configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. 
     
     
         34 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 33 , wherein the collector includes an actuator coupled to the carriage and configured to move the carriage to facilitate transferring a flow of ground material into the plurality of sample compartments. 
     
     
         35 . The kinetic penetrator of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one of a timer, a volume sensor, a weight sensor, and a fill height sensor configured to provide a sensor signal, wherein the collector includes a control system coupled to the actuator, wherein the control system is configured to selectively engage the actuator to move the carriage based on the sensor signal.