The fascinating challenge of exploring icy moons such as Jupiter’s Europa or Saturn’s Enceladus involves navigating their frozen surfaces. This involves drilling through ice layers that are kilometers thick, a task complicated by uneven landscapes, tidal effects and other disturbances within the ice.
SLUSH Project: A New Hope for Ice Drilling
The Search for Life Using Submersible Heated (SLUSH) project is developing a prototype for drilling through terrestrial ice. Instead of traditional drilling methods, the mechanical equipment used has a distinct process to break the ice. This involves heating and melting the residual ice, which is then evacuated upwards. Simultaneously, the drill descends further into the ice, which reforms in the drill’s path.
Keeping in contact with the drill head is the most significant challenge in this operation. To overcome this, the SLUSH project is developing multiple redundant methods of communication. These include a wired connection, relay communication pucks, and fibers to ensure uninterrupted connections.
Testing SLUSH Drilling Prototypes
The initial tests of the SLUSH drilling prototypes have been promising. Early laboratory tests were successful, paving the way for field tests. These were conducted on Devon Island in Canada and have led to further advancements.
- In 2022, a prototype named “Salmon” reached a depth of 1.8 meters under the ice.
- In 2023, the “Dolphin” prototype was tested, but due to logistical issues, its testing was only up to 2 meters deep.
The team is now placing their hopes on the upcoming “Narwhal” prototype in 2024. The aim is for it to drill at least 100 meters deep, a significant increase from previous attempts. While this is still not enough to break through the ice layers of moons like Europa or Enceladus, it is certainly a step in the right direction.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.