Measurement of subsurface heat flow is essential for increasing our understanding of lunar and planetary geophysics. By assessing regolith thermal gradient and conductivity, a number of important scientific parameters can be deduced. Honeybee has significant experience in developing heat flow probes for lunar and planetary science.
- Effective penetration. Honeybee’s pneumatic proboscis heat flow probe design penetrates regolith easily while maintaining a low mass and power profile.
- Low thermal disturbance. By avoiding the use of downhole or percussive actuators, the Honeybee heat flow probe injects almost no heat into the regolith, enabling accurate measurements of the natural thermal landscape.