Research progress and key breakthroughs of coring drill bits for extraterrestrial bodies

Abstract:

Drilling on extraterrestrial bodies is a core means to obtain extraterrestrial scientific data. As a key component， the coring drill bit faces numerous technical challenges constrained by extreme extraterrestrial environments and complex stratigraphic conditions. Based on a literature review of extraterrestrial coring drill bits， this paper investigates the coring bits applied in drilling missions for typical celestial bodies， including the Moon， Mars， asteroids， and comets. By analyzing the impacts of extreme environmental characteristics such as gravity and temperature， as well as stratigraphic and geological conditions， on the reliability and drilling efficiency of coring bits， the study systematically reviews the technical research progress and engineering application issues of various extraterrestrial coring bits. The results indicate that existing cemented carbide drill bits perform effectively in shallow lunar sampling but struggle to cope with lunar soil and granule layers and deep lunar rocks. Superhard material drill bits exhibit excellent performance in ground-based simulation experiments but have not yet been practically applied in lunar exploration missions. While hard rock coring has been realized in Mars drilling， the coring depth remains limited； furthermore， the practical application effects of coring drill bits in drilling on asteroids and comets lack sufficient data support. Future research should focus on technological breakthroughs in key areas such as superhard and wear-resistant gradient composite materials and efficient drilling structures adaptable to complex formations. The research results provide theoretical references and engineering guidance for the development and application of extraterrestrial coring drill bits， supporting the implementation of deep space resource exploitation and utilization and extraterrestrial life trace detection missions.