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News: NASA has selected the PRAXIS mission concept for Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) 2026 Phase I funding.
About PRAXIS System
- Full form: PRAXIS stands for Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling.
- Proposed by: The system is proposed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Aim: The mission aims to directly collect and analyze planetary ring particles to improve understanding of their structure, formation, movement, and evolution.
- Targets: The system targets the rings of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and other ringed objects such as Centaurs Chariklo and Chiron.
- Key Aspects of PRAXIS System:
- Direct Particle Sampling: It is designed to directly collect particles from planetary ring systems, including mm- to cm-sized particles, for the first time.
- AI-powered Robotic Explorer: The mission will use a bio-inspired robotic explorer driven by an artificial intelligence model to directly sample planetary ring particles.
- Autonomous Sampling Technology: The system will use robotic autonomy for collision avoidance, precision sampling, and real-time analysis.
- It will also use a long deployable boom to safely perform touch-and-go sampling.
- Scientific Analysis: The collected particles will be examined to determine their size, porosity, and composition, improving the study of planetary rings.
- Future Development: Phase I will demonstrate the system through simulations and design work, followed by the development of a physical prototype in Phase II.
