A newly developed space drill system was manufactured to detect icy deposit layers at the polar regions of the Moon. Laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the space drill system. Icy deposit layers were composed of ice, fully saturated frozen sand, and fully saturated frozen regolith simulants. The icy deposit layers were monitored by drilling information such as rotation speed, rate of penetration (ROP), rotation torque, and vertical reaction force. Based on the drilling information, it was possible to classify each icy deposit layer and estimate the strength of frozen materials. For drilling the icy deposit layers, laboratory tests reveal that it is important to prevent icy materials from melting, which is caused by a drill bit, and efficiently remove the deposition of cutting chips on the auger surface.
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