A Melting Probe, with Applications on Mars, Europa and in Antarctica
- Paper number
IAC-05-A1.7.08
- Author
Dr. Stephan Ulamec, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Jens Biele, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Jörg Drescher, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Alexander Ivanov, International Space University (ISU), France
- Year
2005
- Abstract
A key aspect for understanding the climatological, biological and biochemical past of planets and moons in the Solar system is the analysis of material embedded in or underneath surface icy layers. In particular the polar caps of Mars as well as the icy crust of Jupiters moon Europa require such investigations.
The most obvious technique to penetrate thick ice layers with small and reliable probes which do not require the heavy and expensive equipment of a drilling rig is by melting through the ice.
While melting probes have successfully been used for terrestrial applications e.g. in glaciers and the Antarctic shelf ice, the behaviour in vacuum (like on Europas surface) is different and theory needs to be confirmed by tests. Due to the high energy demand, in case of extraterrestrial application (e.g. Europa or polar caps of Mars), only heating with radioactive material seems feasible for reaching greater depths (The necessary power is driven by the desired penetration velocity (almost linearly) and the dimensions of the probe (third potency)). However, modest depths could be reached by small Martian melting probes by solar cell power generation on the surface.
Thus, the planetary simulation chamber at DLR in Cologne has been used to perform a series of melting tests in cold (LN2-cooled) water ice samples. The feasibility of the method could be demonstrated and the energy demand for a space mission was estimated. The most interesting differences to melting experiments in “warm” (>-20°C) ice under ambient pressure are observations of alternating sublimation and melting episodes when the melting canal is not yet closed, a high sensitivity to sticking of the probe aft in re-sublimated ices and unexpected rapid closure of the melting canal by refreezing.
The paper will explain the results of tests in vacuum and underline technological areas where further development is needed. A demonstration mission can be foreseen at Antarctica. Investigation of e.g. Lake Vostok will be less problematic compared to drilling in respect to biological contamination, since the Probe could be sterilized and the melting channel will freeze immediately above the probe, inhibiting exchange with the atmosphere and/or contaminated surface layers.
In order to understand the physical and chemical nature of the ice layers, as well as for analysing underlying water, a melting probe needs to be equipped with a suite of scientific instruments that are capable e.g. of determining the chemical and isotopic composition of the embedded or dissolved materials. An overview of potential instrumentation (like miniaturized spectrometers) will be given.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-A1.7.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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