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  • Presentation | P51F: Technological Advances in Icy World Exploration Poster
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  • P51F-1246: Simulating Conditions and Characterizing Performance of Materials for Sending Signals Through the Ice (STI) on Ocean Worlds
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  • Board 1246‚ Hall EFG (Poster Hall)
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Author(s):
Max Wolbeck, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (First Author, Presenting Author)
Kathleen L Craft, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Emily Asenath-Smith, Dartmouth College
Jacob Buffo, Dartmouth College
Max Friedman, USACE-ERDC CRREL
Christopher German, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Michael Jakuba, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Ashley Lakey, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Rosemary Loer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Ralph Lorenz, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Christine McCarthy, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
Wes Patterson, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Hermann Sequeira, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Taylor Price, University of California Santa Cruz
Matthew Silvia, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Robert Stilwell, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Matthew Walker, Planetary Science Institute
Vishaal Singh, Southwest Research Institute Boulder


The icy moons Europa and Enceladus are some of the most promising places to search for life beyond Earth. This is due to the thick ice shell covering a vast ocean of water. Getting beneath the ice shell to further explore the ocean presents many engineering challenges. One of these is maintaining stable and reliable communication from the surface lander and the robotic probe that is sent below the miles of ice.


The Signals Through the Ice (STI) team is developing the technology to make this possible. The cryobot would carry a fiber optic cable as it melts through the ice, which re-freezes behind it. It would also drop small signal repeaters that freeze in place to assist in communication. These systems must endure high pressures and cryogenic temperatures.


The team has made progress by modeling the ice thickness, testing the fiber optic cables, and performing materials research on the signal repeater housing. Together, these efforts aim to make deep exploration of ocean worlds possible and support the search for signs of life.




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