Exploring Europa’s Ocean: A Challenge for Marine Technology of this Century

Carsey, F.; Chen, G.-S.; Cutts, J. A.; French, Linda M.; Kern, Renate; Lane, A. L.; Stolorz, Paul; Zimmerman, Wayne; Ballou, P.

doi:10.4031/mtsj.33.4.2

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Ideas to use so-called ''melting probes'' for getting access to the subsurface layers of planetary ice sheets have been discussed for several years in connection with proposed Mars and Europa missions (Paige 1992;DiPippo et al 1999;Carsey et al 1999;Biele et al 2002). More recently, some theoretical and experimental work has been done to understand the behaviour of such probes under extraterrestrial (very low temperatures, vacuum) conditions (Kö mle et al 2002(Kö mle et al , 2004Treffer et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to glacial and subglacial environments in the Solar System by melting probe technology

Ulamec

Biele

Funke

et al. 2006

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

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A key aspect for understanding the biological and biochemical environment of subglacial waters, on Earth or other planets and moons in the Solar system, is the analysis of material embedded in or underneath icy layers on the surface. In particular the Antarctic lakes (most prominently Lake Vostok) but also the icy crust of Jupiter's moon Europa or the polar caps of Mars require such investigation. One possible technique to penetrate thick ice layers with small and reliable probes is by melting, which does not require the heavy, complex and expensive equipment of a drilling rig. While melting probes have successfully been used for terrestrial applications e.g. in Antarctic ice, their performance in vacuum is different and theory needs confirmation by tests. Thus, a vacuum chamber has been used to perform a series of melting tests in cold (liquid nitrogen cooled) water ice samples. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated and the energy demand for a space mission could be estimated. Due to the high energy demand in case of extraterrestrial application (e.g. Europa or polar caps of Mars), only heating with radioactive isotopes seems feasible for reaching greater depths. The necessary power is driven by the desired penetration velocity (approximately linearly) and the dimensions of the probe (proportional to the cross section). In comparison to traditional drilling techniques the application of a melting probe for exploration of Antarctic lakes offers the advantage that biological contamination is minimized, since the Probe can be sterilized and the melting channel freezes immediately after the probe's passage, inhibiting exchange with the surface layers and the atmosphere. In order to understand the physical and chemical nature of the ice layers, as well as for analysing the underlying water body, a melting probe needs to be equipped with a suite of scientific instruments that are capable of e.g. determining the chemical and isotopic composition of the embedded or dissolved materials.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to glacial and subglacial environments in the Solar System by melting probe technology

Ulamec

Biele

Funke

et al. 2006

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

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“…A lander may additionally be augmented with a small-scale (class 1; <10 m) penetrator (e.g., Biele et al 2011) to sample the upper meters of the ice shell or demonstrate preliminary subsurface access technology, as advocated for in Schmidt et al (2021a). The development of deeper class 2 (0.01-1 km) and class 3 (<1 km; i.e., Barr et al 2004) subsurface mission architectures, access technologies, and vehicles has seen increasing support and advancement (Carsey et al 1999;Zimmerman et al 2001;Powell et al 2005;Gowen et al 2011;Allen et al 2013;Kimball et al 2018;Stone et al 2018aStone et al , 2018bZacny et al 2018;Cwik et al 2019;Oleson et al 2019;Stamenković et al 2019;Aguzzi et al 2020;Bryson et al 2020;Dachwald et al 2020;Hand et al 2020;Stone et al 2020;Schmidt et al 2021aSchmidt et al , 2021bSchmidt et al , 2023. Most recently, from 2019 to 2021, NASA's Scientific Exploration Subsurface Access Mechanism for Europa (SESAME) program supported the formulation and maturation of mission elements required for a 3 yr mission capable of reaching 15 km into the Europan ice shell.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subsurface Science and Search for Life in Ocean Worlds

et al. 2023

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Several worlds in our solar system are thought to hold oceans of liquid water beneath their frozen surfaces. These subsurface ice and ocean environments are promising targets in the search for life beyond Earth, but they also present significant new technical challenges to planetary exploration. With a focus on Jupiter’s moon Europa, here we (1) identify major benefits and challenges to subsurface ocean world science, (2) provide a multidisciplinary survey of relevant sample handling and life detection technologies, and (3) integrate those perspectives into the Subsurface Science and Search for Life in Ocean Worlds (SSSLOW) concept payload. We discuss scientific goals across three complementary categories: (1) search for life, (2) assess habitability, and (3) investigate geological processes. Major mission challenges considered include submerged operation in high-pressure environments, the need to sample fluids with a range of possible chemical conditions, and detection of biosignatures at low concentrations. The SSSLOW addresses these issues by tightly integrated instrumentation and sample handling systems to enable sequential, complementary measurements while prioritizing preservation of sample context. In this work, we leverage techniques and technologies across several fields to demonstrate a path toward future subsurface exploration and life detection in ice and ocean worlds.

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“…al., 2004;Carsey et. al., 2005) and possible sub-ice oceans on Europa (e.g., Carsey et. al., 2000;French, et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS), a device for the uncontaminated collection of multiple microbial samples from submarine hydrothermal vents and other aquatic environments

Taylor

Doherty²,

Molyneaux

et al. 2006

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

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Abstract.An Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS) is described that will obtain uncontaminated and exogenous DNA-free microbial samples from most marine, fresh water and hydrothermal ecosystems. Sampling with the AMS may be conducted using manned submersibles, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), or when tethered to a hydrowire during hydrocast operations on research vessels. The modular device consists of a titanium nozzle for sampling in potentially hot environments (>350°C) and fluid-handling components for the collection of six independent filtered or unfiltered samples. An onboard microcomputer permits sampling to be controlled by the investigator, by external devices (e.g.,

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Exploring Europa’s Ocean: A Challenge for Marine Technology of this Century

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

Access to glacial and subglacial environments in the Solar System by melting probe technology

Access to glacial and subglacial environments in the Solar System by melting probe technology

Subsurface Science and Search for Life in Ocean Worlds

Autonomous Microbial Sampler (AMS), a device for the uncontaminated collection of multiple microbial samples from submarine hydrothermal vents and other aquatic environments

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