Sample Transfer Arm

Sample Transfer Arm
Operator European Space Agency
ManufacturerItaly Leonardo S.p.A.
Instrument typeRobotic arm
Host spacecraft
Spacecraft[to be determined]

The Sample Transfer Arm is a robotic arm developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for use in uncrewed spaceflight. The instrument has seven joints comprising a shoulder, elbow, and wrist. It can extend up to 2.4 metres and manipulate objects with millimetre precision. It is equipped with two cameras, an array of sensors, and computational capacity which give it certain amount of autonomy needed when operating far from Earth. It was built by a European consortium led by the Italian company Leonardo.

The arm was originally intended for use on the Sample Retrieval Lander, part of the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission. It would recover samples, delivered by a rover or helicopter, and load them into the Sample Return Capsule in the Ascent Vehicle. However, the Mars sample return mission was cancelled by NASA in 2026 and ESA began exploring options for using the instrument on another mission, possibly to the Lunar surface.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "First Look at the ESA's Sample Transfer Arm Robot That Will Collect Tubes Left on Mars by Perseverance". TechEBlog. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  2. ↑ "ESA hires Leonardo to build robotic arm for Mars sample return mission". The Independent. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  3. ↑ "Robot arm to help Perseverance bring Mars soil to Earth". BBC Newsround. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  4. 1 2 Atkinson, Nancy (27 January 2023). "Europe Will be Building the Transfer Arm for the Mars Sample Return Mission". Universe Today. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  5. ↑ Stan, Joshua (30 January 2023). "NASA, ESA to Send Sample Transfer Arm to Mars; Retrieving Rover Samples for Historic Trip to Earth". Science Times. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  6. ↑ Walter, Neetika. "Europe builds robotic arm that can see, feel and handle space samples". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  7. ↑ "A helping hand for Mars". www.dti.dk. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  8. ↑ Hurler, Kevin (26 January 2023). "Concept Video Unveils Robotic Arm for Retrieving Surface Samples on Mars". Gizmodo. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  9. ↑ "A helping hand for Mars". ESA: TBD. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  10. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (26 November 2025). "ESA to Repurpose European Service Module and Earth Return Orbiter". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "The gripping hand". ESA: TBD. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
  12. ↑ "One robotic arm to rule them all – To Mars and back". blogs.esa.int. Retrieved 8 November 2026.