Exploring Europa, one of Jupiter’s most intriguing moons, requires cutting-edge technology. With its thick ice shell and hidden subsurface ocean, the key to unlocking Europa’s secrets lies beneath the ice. Enter the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)—a sophisticated underwater robot designed to explore the unknown depths of this alien ocean.
But before we send an ROV hurtling over 400M miles through space to Europa, we need to make sure it can handle the challenges of operating in extreme underwater environments right here on Earth.
Why Test on Earth First?
Europa’s ocean is believed to be one of the most promising places to find life beyond Earth, but it’s also a harsh and alien environment. Before we send an ROV millions of miles away, we test it in Earth’s deep oceans, where extreme conditions such as cold temperatures, crushing pressures, and zero visibility provide a close analog to Europa. These tests help us fine-tune the ROV’s abilities to navigate, capture data, and even sample the ocean floor, ensuring it can operate autonomously in the icy waters beneath Europa’s surface.
Simulating Europa on Earth
To simulate Europa’s icy depths, scientists test ROVs in some of Earth’s most extreme environments, like the Arctic Ocean and Antarctic waters. These environments offer frigid temperatures and thick ice, mimicking Europa’s conditions. The ROV is tested for its ability to handle freezing temperatures, as well as its ability to melt or drill through ice to reach the liquid ocean below. We also simulate the lack of sunlight on Europa by testing the ROV’s navigation systems in pitch darkness, relying only on sonar, infrared, and advanced sensors to map the terrain.
Handling the Pressure
Europa’s ocean lies miles beneath its ice, which means the ROV will face immense pressure. To prepare, we test the vehicle in deep ocean trenches here on Earth—places like the Mariana Trench, where the pressure can exceed 1,000 times that at sea level. These tests ensure the ROV’s frame, joints, and sensitive electronics can withstand Europa’s deep-sea pressures without being crushed.
Challenges of Remote Operation
Unlike Earth-based missions, an ROV on Europa will be millions of miles away. Real-time control is impossible, so the ROV must be autonomous, able to make decisions on its own based on data from its surroundings. Testing on Earth allows engineers to develop and perfect AI systems that allow the ROV to navigate, avoid obstacles, and make quick decisions in real-time—just like it will have to do on Europa.
Final Thoughts
Testing underwater ROVs on Earth is an essential step in preparing for Europa missions. Our oceans provide the perfect proving ground for these robots, giving us confidence that when the ROV finally touches down on Europa, it will be ready to tackle one of the most exciting exploration missions of all time—uncovering the mysteries hidden beneath the ice of this distant moon.
Would you like to test it for yourself?
While we haven't yet sent an ROV to Europa, we're sure NASA and others are testing related equipment to the limits. While we (MXT) haven't built an actual physical ROV, we have created a related experience. Sign-up to our newsletter and you might just get access too.
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