Europa Drill Probe

Europa Drill Probe"A mole-like thermal drill designed to cut through the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa could be on a future mission slated for launch in 2020. Such a device would represent the best of both worlds by using heat to melt through the ice and rotating drill blades to clear away rocky material. The drill would be nestled inside a larger penetrator probe that would burrow itself into Europa’s icy shell."

 

Read more at:

http://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/dual-drill-designed-for-europas-ice/

Image appeared in Issue 16 of magazine "All About Space".