@inproceedings{DigelDachwaldArtmannetal.2009, author = {Digel, Ilya and Dachwald, Bernd and Artmann, Gerhard and Linder, Peter and Funke, O.}, title = {A concept of a probe for particle analysis and life detection in icy environments}, year = {2009}, abstract = {A melting probe equipped with autofluorescence-based detection system combined with a light scattering unit, and, optionally, with a microarray chip would be ideally suited to probe icy environments like Europa's ice layer as well as the polar ice layers of Earth and Mars for recent and extinct live.}, subject = {Sonde}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldXuFeldmannetal.2011, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Xu, Changsheng and Feldmann, Marco and Plescher, Engelbert and Digel, Ilya and Artmann, Gerhard}, title = {Development and testing of a subsurface probe for detection of life in deep ice : [abstract]}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We present the novel concept of a combined drilling and melting probe for subsurface ice research. This probe, named "IceMole", is currently developed, built, and tested at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences' Astronautical Laboratory. Here, we describe its first prototype design and report the results of its field tests on the Swiss Morteratsch glacier. Although the IceMole design is currently adapted to terrestrial glaciers and ice shields, it may later be modified for the subsurface in-situ investigation of extraterrestrial ice, e.g., on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. If life exists on those bodies, it may be present in the ice (as life can also be found in the deep ice of Earth).}, subject = {Eisschicht}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldMikuckiTulaczyketal.2012, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Mikucki, Jill A. and Tulaczyk, Slawek and Digel, Ilya and Feldmann, Marco and Espe, Clemens and Plescher, Engelbert and Xu, Changsheng}, title = {IceMole - a maneuverable probe for clean in-situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial aquatic ecosystems : extended abstract / SCAR Open Science Conference 2012, Session 29: Advancing Clean Technologies for Exploration of Glacial Aquatic Ecosystems}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The "IceMole" is a novel maneuverable subsurface ice probe for clean in-situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial water/brine. It is developed and build at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences' Astronautical Laboratory. A first prototype was successfully tested on the Swiss Morteratsch glacier in 2010. Clean sampling is achieved with a hollow ice screw (as it is used in mountaineering) at the tip of the probe. Maneuverability is achieved with a differentially heated melting head. Funded by the German Space Agency (DLR), a consortium led by FH Aachen currently develops a much more advanced IceMole probe, which includes a sophisticated system for obstacle avoidance, target detection, and navigation in the ice. We intend to use this probe for taking clean samples of subglacial brine at the Blood Falls (McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica) for chemical and microbiological analysis. In our conference contribution, we 1) describe the IceMole design, 2) report the results of the field tests of the first prototype on the Morteratsch glacier, 3) discuss the probe's potential for the clean in-situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial liquids, and 4) outline the way ahead in the development of this technology.}, subject = {Eisschicht}, language = {en} }