NASA Shows Off Concept for an Alien-Hunting 'Cryobot' Probe скачать в хорошем качестве

NASA Shows Off Concept for an Alien-Hunting 'Cryobot' Probe

NASA Shows Off Concept for an Alien-Hunting 'Cryobot' Probe NASA has unveiled a groundbreaking concept for a cryobot, a cylindrical robot designed to explore the subsurface oceans believed to exist beneath the icy crusts of moons around Jupiter and Saturn. Astrobiologists theorize that these distant water worlds may harbor alien life. While the surfaces of planets like Mars can be explored by rovers, these hidden oceans are currently inaccessible. The cryobot is envisioned as a thermal-powered device capable of heating ice to drill through it, providing access to the liquid water beneath. The proposed mission was discussed at a workshop held at the California Institute of Technology in February, where over 40 researchers explored the technological aspects of the cryobot. The cryobot design includes a thermal management system to regulate internal temperatures and distribute heat effectively. Additionally, it features a water jetting and cutting system to clear obstacles like rocks, particulate matter, and salt encased in the ice. The workshop participants highlighted the importance of demonstrating hazard mitigation systems in future work on the concept. They also emphasized the need for a communication link between the cryobot and a surface lander on the moon, which would relay information back to Earth. While industry-standard fiber optic cables are an option, the movement in the ice could potentially disrupt the connection, prompting consideration of wireless communication methods such as radio, acoustic, and magnetic transceivers. Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus are the primary targets for astrobiologists. NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have committed to missions to explore Europa, with NASA's Europa Clipper expected to launch in October 2024. This mission will inform the design of the cryobot probe, which aims to breach Europa's frozen surface and transmit data from its subsurface ocean. Meanwhile, a mission concept called the Enceladus Orbilander is being developed to orbit and land on Saturn's moon, searching for signs of life in its subsurface ocean. The workshop participants concluded that the cryobot mission concept "remains feasible, scientifically compelling, and the most plausible near-term way to directly search for life in situ on an ocean world." While it will be several years before a probe is deployed to explore these icy moons, the cryobot concept brings scientists one step closer to the possibility of exploring alien oceans and potentially discovering extraterrestrial life.