The drill core service module is designed to provide structural and operating support to all of the project's subsystems to be mounted onboard, which include: the remote science instrument suite, the drill system, the borehole inspection system, the core sample handling system, as well as to provide for all peripheral and auxiliary equipment involved with the drilling and analysis process. The DCSM has will provide the structural rigidity and vibration isolation required to have ongoing simultaneous operations of all the systems at the same time. Electrical power is provided from the outside via electric generators and it is distributed through several ports located throughout the system.

In a flight mission, the Mars lander would be required to provide interfaces for power, data, and mechanical loads for the drill, core sample handling system, science instruments, and related components. The support module will provide these same interfaces for the Mars Mission Simulation hardware. However, in order to fit within the allowable time and cost constraints, no attempt is made to make the support module “flight-like” in terms of mass, reliability, style of construction, etc.

The main design requirements of the support module design are:

1) A horizontal surface plate of sufficient size and rigidity to accommodate all the component modules and keep them from moving with respect to each other when under load.

2) Power conditioning modules, data and power ports for all the subsystems, and communication I/O devices (e.g., modems).

3) A mounting scheme that allows the drill vertical access to the ground.

4) Customized fixtures and brackets for mounting all the components on the surface plate.

5) Adjustable legs capable of leveling the surface plate on uneven ground and absorbing all the mechanical loads induced by the drilling operations.

The design approach incorporates a surface plate approximating a 4' hexagon, with 3 peripheral, triangulated, adjustable-length legs. This provides adequate space for attaching all the elements. The module has been fabricated from aluminum structural shapes (angle, plate, tubing, etc.) and it was assembled with threaded fasteners and incorporated only COTS technology.