NASA's Snake Robot: Unveiling Life on Saturn's Moon

NASA is developing a snake robot to search for life in the icy oceans of Saturn's moon Enceladus..

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The snake robot design has been around for decades, known for its redundancy and ability to navigate tight spaces.

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Initially used in search-and-rescue, these robots are also helpful in plumbing and medical fields, navigating through pipes and organs.

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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is exploring snake robots for extraterrestrial life scouting, particularly on Saturn's moon, Enceladus.

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Current tests mimic extraterrestrial conditions, focusing on icy environments to prepare for Enceladus's exploration.

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Cassini missions have shown Enceladus's potential for harboring life, with its water-rich, ice-covered environment.

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The Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) is the snake robot designed for traversing oceans under Enceladus's crust to seek life.

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The EELS project is a collaborative effort involving JPL, Arizona State University, UC San Diego, and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

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EELS is designed to move autonomously, navigating through Enceladus's narrow geysers and deep oceans, equipped with advanced controls and awareness.

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Weighing 100,000 grams and measuring 4.4 meters, EELS represents a significant step towards answering questions about life in our solar system.

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