NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  1. Content with the tag: “depthx

  2. Exploring Europa on Earth



    A liquid ocean may lie hidden beneath the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa. Astrobiologists theorize that hydrothermal vents at the bottom of this ocean could provide all of the ingredients needed to support life – much like the hydrothermal vents at the bottom of Earth’s oceans. Exploring such habitats on Europa won’t be as easy as it is on our own planet, which is why NASA-funded engineers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution plan to practice on Earth first.

    Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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  3. Robot Dives Deep for Sinkhole Slime


    In May, researchers successfully conducted the third and final field test of the autonomous underwater robot, DEPTHX. Their objective was to explore Cenote Zacatón, the world’s deepest water-filled sinkhole.

    Zacatón lies near one end of a chain of sinkholes stretching nearly half a mile across Rancho La Azufroza (Sulfur Ranch), located in northeastern México, roughly 20 miles from the Gulf Coast. Even without the sinkholes, the biology of the region would make a fascinating subject of study. The landscape is dotted with a muddle of tropical deciduous trees and bromeliads growing side-by-side with agaves and cacti typical of desert climates....

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  4. DEPTHX Tests the Waters for Future Exploration of Europa


    The Deep Phreatic Thermal eXplorer, or DEPTHX, is preparing for another series of dives into a 115-meter deep geothermal sinkhole in Mexico. These dives follow a series of successful tests dives to shakedown the vehicle’s autonomous navigation and mapping capabilities. Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP) funds the DEPTHX project as a study to develop technology that could one day allow a waterborne explorer to probe the ocean thought to exist beneath the icy outer shell covering Europa.

    Source: [Link]

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