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Clean In Situ Subsurface Exploration of Icy Environments in the Solar System

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Habitability of Other Planets and Satellites

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 28))

Abstract

To assess the habitability of the icy environments in the solar system, for example, on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus, the scientific analysis of material embedded in or underneath their ice layers is very important. We consider self-steering robotic ice melting probes to be the best method to cleanly access these environments, that is, in compliance with planetary protection standards. The required technologies are currently developed and tested.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this chapter, we will use the term “water” also for salt water or brine.

  2. 2.

    The reader may forgive this bias, but the IceMole solves many of the discussed challenges in a unique and seminal way, and reliable information about the current development status of other ice melting probes is difficult to obtain.

  3. 3.

    where the Sun is at zenith.

  4. 4.

    “SUSI” is the abbreviation for “Sonde Under Shelf Ice.”

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Hohenstaufenallee 6, 52064, Aachen, Germany

    Bernd Dachwald

  2. German Aerospace Center (DLR), RB-MUSC, Linder Höhe, 51147, Cologne, Germany

    Stephan Ulamec & Jens Biele

Authors
  1. Bernd Dachwald
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  2. Stephan Ulamec
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  3. Jens Biele
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernd Dachwald .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Planetary Physics, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany

    Jean-Pierre de Vera

  2. The Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Dachwald, B., Ulamec, S., Biele, J. (2013). Clean In Situ Subsurface Exploration of Icy Environments in the Solar System. In: de Vera, JP., Seckbach, J. (eds) Habitability of Other Planets and Satellites. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 28. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6546-7_20

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