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Sea Gliders for Other Worlds

Posted by michael on from the europa-cruiser dept.

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."

9 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. this is funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It says superior probing. What a great phrase!!! Let's go Navy!!!

    1. Re:this is funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Let's go Navy!!!

      So your a fag??

  2. asdligfh;dligfh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    TROLL!!!!!

  3. Hose Sex by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I like to hump vacuum cleaners.

  4. i hope they find by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    i hope they find the fabled goatseicus se-exicus fish. this fish is known for being able to expand its rectal region to swallow other fish whole. quite a remarkable species.

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  6. the navy ain't for fags by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It's for really butch homos!!! Get it straight. And while you're getting straight, bend over and let me see that behymen of yours!!!

  7. New method of drug trafficking by NetMasta10bt · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I can just imagine fleets of these long tube like gliders deep in the ocean, programmed to travel to a specified GPS location for pick up. They could carry huge ammounts of . The DEA's new nightmare.

  8. Europa? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    What is it? It sounds like the title to an Erasure album.