Sea Gliders for Other Worlds

An anonymous submitter writes: "NASA has, for the moment, killed funding for research leading to an underwater probe for Europa's suspected saltwater ocean. But it's possible that this is a good thing. SPACE.com proposes that U.S. Navy-funded research into underwater gliders could offer a superior means of probing Europa, exploring Venus, and even diving into the methane/ethane seas of Titan. NASA wanted a big battery and propeller machine under the ice of Europa, but that might break down, stir up water that should left undisturbed, and leak lubricants into a pristine research environment. The navy wants gliders with internal actuators because they have no flaps or propellers, no lubricant, and one already exists that could "fly" under the Pacific from Seattle to Tokyo on a penlight battery! Another model uses no batteries for locomotion at all, but instead taps heat gradients."

Comments

For the geek that has everything.

[PopeAlien]

Well once you've got your own luxury submarine this would be a good toy to take along with you beneath the waves.

Sounds cool ...

[thud2000]

But will it probe Uranus?

Re:Sounds cool ...

[teslatug]

Didn't you read the article? It has no lubricants.

:)

Re:Sounds cool ...

[bobdehnhardt]

Of course not - it's a Government project. Ask anybody (especially around April 15), and they'll tell you that Uncle Sam never uses lubricants!

Me? Bitter? Nah....

Re:Contamination avoidance

[ScoLgo]

What the difference between contaminating Europe today, or doing it a million years from now?

Actually, Europe has been contaminated for a long, long time already. ;-)

Everything can relate to Star Wars

[superx22x]

Why dont they just use that nifty sub that the Gungans Gave Qui Gon and Obi Wan, It seemed to be echo firendly, and we can finally send Jar Jar away and he will never come back!

Probing Europa?

[Blackheart2]

Don't they know better?

all these worlds are yours
except europa
attempt no landing there
use them together
use them in peace

Re:Contamination avoidance

[56ker]

Hey - there are *some* /. readers from Europe you know! :)

Penlight Battery

[Jucius Maximus]

For the North Americans (like me): Penlight Batteries are just AA batteries.

Re:Contamination avoidance

[isaac]

Actually, Europe has been contaminated for a long, long time already. ;-)

Hey - there are *some* /. readers from Europe you know! :)

Q.E.D.

-Isaac

Perhaps it's not a spelling mistake...

[NOT-2-QUICK]

Maybe he simply meant that they have intentionally left port 7 open on the firewall protecting the sub he is referencing...thus it is "Echo Friendly"

Just a thought - you never know, it could happen! :-)

Alternatively, perhaps he's just another one of non-spelling idiots who habitually and hypocritically criticize the /. editors for their spelling mistakes - hard to say...