Overview
IceMole is a research robot manufactured by university of applied sciences in DE, first introduced in 2010. autonomous ice research probe
Specifications
Category: Research- Speed
- 0 m/s
- Weight
- 60 kg
- Launch year
- 2010
- Price
- Contact for quote
- Status
- active
Detailed specifications
Other18
- Price Tier
- 150K+
- Applications
- sample_handling
- Sub Category
- subsurface ice melting probe
- Auto Charging
- false
- Datasheet Url
- View Link
- Contact Emails
- info@fh-aachen.de,press@dlr.de
- Model Variants
- IceMole 1,IceMole 2,EnEx-IceMole
- Operating Temp
- -17 to -7°C (environmental)
- Company Country
- DE
- Navigation Type
- hybrid
- Deployment Count
- 3
- Deployment Notes
- Tested on Morteratschgletscher, Switzerland (2010, IceMole 1; 2012, IceMole 2); Hofsjökull ice cap, Iceland (2012, IceMole 2); Lake Hoare, Antarctica (Blood Falls sampling)
- Youtube Video Id
- 4hSpeHXMNCc
- Industries Served
- astrobiology,glaciology,space_exploration
- Training Required
- advanced_>5days
- Availability Status
- research-only
- Countries Available
- Germany,Switzerland,Iceland,Antarctica,Greenland
- Additional Information
- Developed primarily at the Astronautical Laboratory of FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and international partners.,Combines thermal melting with mechanical propulsion to navigate complex ice structures.,Successful field tests include penetrations at the Morteratschgletscher in Switzerland (2010–2013), Hofsjökull glacier in Iceland (2012), and Blood Falls on Antarctica's Taylor Glacier (2014).,Prototypes evolved from IceMole 1 (2010) to IceMole 2 (2012) with improved heating and attitude control.,Advanced EnEx-IceMole under the DLR-funded Enceladus Explorer (EnEx) initiative.,Breakthrough detection during the Antarctic test relied on monitoring electrical conductivity spikes, temperature rises, and reduced tunneling speed upon reaching liquid water.,Its low logistical footprint (around 500 kg of equipment) and ability to handle debris and voids make it suitable for other icy bodies like Europa, advancing astrobiology by enabling uncontaminated sampling in extreme environments.,Primary astrobiology objectives involve clean in situ detection of microbial life and analysis of organic compounds within subglacial aquatic ecosystems.,IceMole aims to provide insights into extremophile communities that thrive in isolated, nutrient-poor conditions.,IceMole's astrobiology work integrates with collaborative missions via projects like EnEx and MIDGE, aligning sampling protocols with COSPAR planetary protection guidelines to inventory bioburden, control organics, and develop contamination analysis plans.
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