Ocean World and Martian Subglacial Lake Exploration Technology: How close are we to Viable Flight Vehicles?
Abstract
The recent discovery of a potential subglacial lake beneath the south pole ice cap of Mars has increased interest in reaching such places with robotic technology. During the past decade research has been conducted on ice penetrating "cryobots" and cryobot-deployed autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) in preparation for sub-surface missions to Ocean Worlds. This talk will provide an overview of the state of ice penetrating and sub-ice exploration technology for flight missions. Of primary importance is the nuclear power source, which can be optimized for cryobot operations. In addition, there are five cryobot operating regimes (starting, brittle ice transit, ductile ice transit, obstacle avoidance/passage, and breakthrough into voids or ocean). Each of these presents unique challenges to and constraints on a vehicle. Currently, four penetrator technologies have been identified that can be used either singly or collectively: passive thermal melt probes, closed-cycle hot water drills (CCHWD), laser penetration, and mechanical drills. All are currently being advanced in the NASA COLDTech program as each has certain tradeoffs. Mechanical drills have been shown to work in cold ice and are able to penetrate non-ice solids, but suffer from wear and binding. Lasers are extremely efficient in cutting through cold and warm ice in wet or vacuum conditions, but require large amounts of electrical power. CCHWD systems can also cut through debris-laden ice and steer to avoid obstacles. In this presentation, we discuss pros and cons of each of these penetrator technologies in light of new nuclear power sources. We also discuss constraints on deployable sub-ice swimming rovers necessary to expand exploration radius from an initial breakthrough point into a sub-surface water body. Finally, we propose several national or international test facilities that will both advance these technologies to flight readiness and improve our understanding of Earth's and extraterrestrial cryospheres.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.P42B..02S
- Keywords:
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- 0726 Ice sheets;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 4599 General or miscellaneous;
- OCEANOGRAPHY: PHYSICALDE: 6207 Comparative planetology;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTSDE: 6299 General or miscellaneous;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS