But a backup means of sending data is needed in case that fiber fails. Data gathered in the PARTI Pucks (Puck-based data transmission using Adaptive Radio modems for Through-Ice communications) project support that different antennas may be adapted for use in different parts of Europa’s ice shell.
Back in the States, we also demonstrated a novel end-fire dipole antenna by suspending it from a hot air balloon!
When a cryobot descends into the vast ice shells on these moons, it will probably use a fiber optic tether to send data from the robot to a base station on the surface of the ice.
We built and tested transponder “pucks” that used UHF (ultra high frequency) patch antennas and HF (high frequency) ferrite-core crossed loop antennas. We traveled to the Arctic and demonstrated through-ice transmission in an ice cave.
Icy caves, distant moons, hot air balloons and radio waves. In November we concluded our work on a 3-year NASA-funded project to test different strategies to transmit data through 100s of meters (and someday kilometers!) of ice on Europa and Enceladus. #cuboulder #exploration @cuboulder.bsky.social
