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Tunneling into the Earth, mankind has reached a mere 7.5 miles total depth, taking 20 years to accomplish and still only penetrating about 1/3 of the way through the Earth's crust.
Researchers at the American Geophysical Union, however, are not satisfied and if they can't break that record on Earth, well, there are other options.
On Friday (Dec. 14) at the 2018 meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the researchers presented a proposal for a "tunnelbot" that would use nuclear power to melt a path downward through Europa's shell, "carrying a payload that can search for… evidence for extant/extinct life."
The proposed tunnelbot would deploy repeaters at depths of 5, 10 and 15km to relay information. Well past the depth of any hole ever drilled on Earth, and hopefully reaching the Jovian moon's inferred liquid saltwater ocean at an estimated depth of between 10-30km
I wonder if it will need bumpers on the sides like things closer to home?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 06 2019, @01:47AM
I always wondered if the lapse rate continued down below the surface into deep holes, eg Mel's hole.
(Score: 2) by black6host on Sunday January 06 2019, @03:58AM (2 children)
We're already fucking the world. We've got to make it literal? Mod me down, call me a troll, a Luddite. I'll tell you what, once we figure out what's going on on top, then we can start to look at how to blow it up from within.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday January 06 2019, @05:09AM (1 child)
You must be new here (Earth). First we figure out how to destroy things, then we look at any other interesting aspects of them.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday January 07 2019, @07:20PM
First figure out how to destroy things, then figure out how to do so more efficiently.
Idea: A Nuclear Tunnelbot melts through Europa's ice. This environmental disaster triggers an interplanetary war. Europa Is A Harsh Mistress. Hey if they can burn holes through our protective ice covering, we can destroy their ozone layer.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by crafoo on Sunday January 06 2019, @08:13AM (3 children)
Anything that gets us closer to exploring Jupiter's and Saturn's moons I am 100% behind. This sounds very cool. Europa is one of the 3 or so solar system moons that most likely has water oceans under it's icy crust. This kind of exploring robot would be wonderful! I'm a little worried that we will put this off for a few decades. Maybe China will get it done.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Sunday January 06 2019, @11:31AM (2 children)
Spoken like a mosquito that accidently taps into an artery. Do the words "Ice Volcano Plume" mean anything to you?
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Sunday January 06 2019, @08:33PM
"Radioactive Ice Volcano Plume" for when the destruction of alien lifeforms is a price we're prepared to pay.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday January 06 2019, @09:25PM