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ESDMD #1201: In-Situ Sample Storage and Processing

Long-duration cold storage (refrigerated, frozen, then cryogenic) to preserve geological and biological samples collected on the Moon and Mars until they reach Earth (bin 5, rating 38 of 57). ISS uses active and passive cold storage for short returns. Orion "has no active cold storage capabilities". The temperature range and duration are still "TBR" (Tech gaps spreadsheet, ESDMD #1201).

Quotations below are from row ESDMD #1201 of the tech gaps spreadsheet unless marked otherwise. ADD Rev C's Appendix D prints the same table for this gap, and it matches the row field for field (ADD Rev C, p. 259).

Description

"In-situ samples collected on the Moon and Mars will call for storage at refrigerated, frozen, and cryogenic temperatures to preserve critical science samples. Currently, a combination of active and passive cold storage is used to return samples back to Earth from the International Space Station for short durations, but Orion, for example, has no active cold storage capabilities. There is a need for long-duration storage methods and technologies to enable successful storage and return of in-situ samples."

Impacts and benefits: "Without gap closure, the impact is potential loss or degradation of critical samples. Also, depending on how the samples are preserved, this could lead to insufficient use of crew time if the samples are not stored and processed properly."

Current state of the art

"Active cold storage systems on the ISS (e.g., MERLIN, MELFI, Glacier) and active and passive cold stowage."

Performance target

  • Moon/Mars: "Enable storage of geological and biological samples at TBR temperature range for TBR duration. Refrigerated and frozen storage will be needed before cryogenic storage."
  • Moon: "In addition, lower end of temperature range is expected to be lower at the Moon than at Mars."
  • Mars: "In addition, duration of storage is expected to be longer for Martian samples compared to lunar samples."

Child gaps

  • 1201-01: Conditioned surface sample storage and return
  • 1201-02: High-capacity and high-efficiency cryocoolers for sample conditioning applications
  • 1106-03*: High-efficiency cryo-coolers at 20K and 90K temperature class

The starred child gap also appears under #1106, cryogenic fluid storage. The asterisk marks "a child gap with multiple parents" (ADD Rev C, p. 199).

Traceability

  • Use cases and functions: UC-T-303 L -- All FN; UC-T-304 L -- All FN; UC-T-305 L -- All FN; UC-T-306 L -- All FN; UC-T-307 L -- All FN; UC-T-302 M -- All FN; UC-T-303 M -- All FN
  • Definition tasks: Mars: MD-01 Initial Human Mars Segment Science Objective Priorities; Science Support Platform (Mars Surface); Mars Sample Analysis Strategy

Segments and sub-architectures

Priority

Priority bin 5, overall prioritization rating 38 of 57. The rating is "the gap's location in the prioritized list of gaps", so 1 is the highest priority, and bins group gaps of similar priority, bin 1 highest. Criticality, urgency, breadth and depth set the order; cost is not considered (ADD Rev C, pp. 78, 199; method on the gaps index).

Moon Base relevance

Not established by the sources so far. The Users Guide does not name #1201 among its near-term Moon Base challenges (Technology and knowledge challenges). Its "Small cargo return" challenge mentions samples but cites only data gaps (DN-017 L, DN-018 L) and no tech gap: "Returning cargo from the lunar surface (e.g., scientific samples) requires a detailed understanding of how launch from the surface affects lunar regolith and nearby assets" (Users Guide, p. 12).

Sources

Tech gaps spreadsheet, ESDMD #1201 · ADD Rev C, pp. 78, 199, 259 · Users Guide, p. 12 · 2026 industry and academia workshop, slide 50