by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- Chris Chapman studied art and music in school. But like a lot of people, his major in college has little to do with what he is doing now.

Chapman is part of a company that is giving NASA a helping "hand" with the exploration of Mars.

Chapman, a former Aurora resident whose parents still live in town, is the president and co-founder of a company called Honeybee Robotics.

In 2007, NASA launched the Phoenix Mars Mission. According to its Web site, "Phoenix is designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil."

Chapman explained the project this way: "The overall project's goal is to collect soil and ice samples from the north polar region of Mars for analysis by a suite of instruments that are on board the lander."

Chapman attended Aurora elementary schools, then graduated from Universtiy School in 1968.

He created Honeybee Robotics in 1983 along with Steven Gorevan, a college friend. Gorevan, an engineer, was in charge of engineering, and Chapman concentrated on the business side.

IN THE EARLY years, Honeybee did mostly factory automation work, according to Chapman. By 1988, Gorevan had forged links with NASA and won research/design contracts, paving the way for what the pair does today.

According to its Web site, Honeybee "designs, develops and supplies automated mechanisms for industrial, defense and aerospace applications."

Its products include solar array drives and deployment devices, automated drills and sampling systems, spacecraft mechanisms and custom electromechanical subsystems for space flight.

It has worked on more than 90 projects for NASA and several for the U.S. Department of Defense.

For the Phoenix Mars Mission, Honeybee provided two instruments.

The ISAS (Icy Soil Acquisition Device) scoops loose overburden to expose the frozen soil layer beneath and acquires powdered ice-bearing samples from frozen soil for delivery to an analytical lab.

The second is a dust cover for one of the other instruments on board the Phoenix Lander.

Another major project for Honeybee with NASA came in 2003 when the latter launched twin Mars rovers in the Athena project.

CHAMPMAN said Honeybee had to create a rock abrasion tool (RAT). It took a year of research to create a device the size of a pop can which could shave off a nickel-sized section of rock using as much power as a refrigerator light bulb.

On Feb. 6 that year, Honeybee's tool was put into use as it cut off small pieces of Mars rock to be further studied.

"What I take the most satisfaction in is the team we've put together and to be part of that team," said Chapman. "They're a talented, dedicated group of people and I couldn't be more proud to serve with them."

Before joining Gorevan and founding Honeybee, Chapman worked in his family's financial services firm in Aurora. He wasn't convinced finances were what he wanted to do all his life, and took a chance with Honeybee. He said it has been a rewarding decision.

"Honeybee has developed about a dozen drilling and sample acquisition technologies for NASA, and we see some crossover benefits for terrestrial drilling," he said.

"I think there's a demonstrable return from NASA missions, but there's more to it than that. There's the basic urge to explore. There are fundamental questions about who we are and where we come from.

"When I talk at schools, I stress that Honeybee is fortunate to be doing this kind of work; it's tremendously exciting."

Editor's note: If you know about an Aurora High School graduate who is involved in an interesting occupation or is making positive contributions to society, call editor Ken Lahmers at 330-688-0088 ext. 3155 or e-mail klahmers@recordpub.com

E-mail:

bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115