Jules Verne enthralled generations of readers with the science fiction classic Journey to the Center of the Earth. In this epic tale, Professor Otto Lidenbrock and crew descend into an Icelandic volcano in the name of science. Now, a team of researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory propose that spelunking robots could similarly explore the subsurface oceans of icy moons.
Each year the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program (NIAC) reviews visionary ideas that could change the future of space travel. NIAC revises what is possible by using technological developments to transform science fiction into science fact. Recently, NASA announced its 2016 Phase 1 mission concepts.
“The 2016 NIAC Phase I competition was fierce, as usual. All of the final candidates were outstanding, and limiting the choice to what fit in our budget was difficult,” said Jason Derleth, NIAC program executive. “We hope each new study will push boundaries and explore new approaches—that’s what makes NIAC unique.”
Mars is traditionally pegged as the best place to look for life beyond Earth as the red planet was once Earth-like. However, there may be better options—such as Europa or Enceladus—further out into the Solar System. The two frosty moons (orbiting the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn respectively), both harbor subsurface oceans beneath a frozen exterior, which could be ideal for hosting life.
With a thick icy crust—as much as 62 miles (100 km) thick—Europa would present some issues for a drilling robot to reach the subsurface ocean. As such, researchers have turned their sights to Saturn’s snowball moon, Enceladus. The tiny moon features a tantalizing terrain, with geyser-like plumes and surface scars (known as tiger stripes), which could provide the best point of access for a robotic probe.
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