Abstract_EANA2026-90

Abstract EANA2026-90

TRIPLE project - Technologies for Rapid Ice Penetration and Subglacial Lake Exploration

Vera Schorbach (1), Jean-Pierre de Vera (2), Mia Giang Do (3), Jan Thimo Grundmann (4), Dirk Heinen (3), Oliver Funke (5), Julia Kowalski (6), Sergey Yakovlev (7) for the TRIPLE consortium

(1) Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, (2) German Aerospace Center (DLR), Space Operations and Astronaut Training, MUSC, Cologne, Germany, (3) Physics Institute III B, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, (4) German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Space Systems, Bremen, (5) German Space Agency at DLR, Bonn, Germany (6) Chair of Methods for Model-based Development in Computational Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (7) EvoLogics GmbH, Berlin, Germany

The TRIPLE project (Technologies for Rapid Ice Penetration and subglacial Lake Exploration) is a project line initiated by the German Space Agency at DLR, focusing on the development of key enabling technologies for autonomous exploration of aquatic environments beneath ice-covered regions. In the medium term, the TRIPLE system is intended for scientific investigations of terrestrial subglacial lakes (as can be found e.g. at Dome C region in Antarctica) and under-ice ocean environments, serving as a testbed for future planetary exploration missions.

The long-term goal is to explore the subglacial global oceans of the outer Solar System on e.g. Europa or Enceladus.

Once the technology has successfully been demonstrated its capabilities in terrestrial analogue environments representative of the Ocean Worlds of the outer Solar System, it could become the desired key technology for a future robotic space mission to explore these Ocean Worlds. Thus, TRIPLE extends the current technological boundaries for astrobiological exploration opening the door to future missions searching for extraterrestrial life on the Ocean Worlds.

TRIPLE integrates three primary components as a coherent system to operate as one science package within a mission or expedition:

(i) a melting probe designed for efficient ice penetration, which also serves as a technology carrier for scientific in-situ sensors and payloads;

(ii) a miniaturized Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (nanoAUV), capable of autonomous underwater navigation by means of inertial navigation and a hydroacoustic positioning system, exploring the subglacial aquatic environment, transmitting collected measurements and mission telemetry via a hydroacoustic data link, collecting samples, and returning them to the melting probe;

(iii) an Astrobiological Laboratory (AstroBioLab) for in-situ analysis of collected samples.

A key objective of this project is to enable contamination-free exploration of terrestrial and extraterrestrial extreme environments where individually specialized and adopted life forms may be found. To achieve this goal, it is planned to demonstrate the TRIPLE system capability in extensive field test campaigns in Antarctica, e.g. within the Dome C region , a terrestrial analogue site that resembles conditions on icy moons as close as possible. In addition to its technological advancements, TRIPLE emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists specializing in astrobiology, glaciology, and robotics. By harnessing expertise from various fields, the project also refines methods for biosignature detection and understanding biogeochemical processes within subglacial ecosystems.

This contribution presents the current status of the TRIPLE project. Particular emphasis is placed on the upcoming mission to Neumayer Station III in Antarctica at the end of 2026, challenges of subglacial hydro-acoustic data communication and latest results of energy demand and efficiency for the melting probe under Europa-like conditions.