MADISON, Wis. -- An underwater robot will take a swim in the frigid waters of Lake Mendota on Monday as a part of a research experiment that could serve as a dry run for future planetary exploration.

Researchers from NASA and the University of Illinois at Chicago are heading up the week-long test in which a submersible will dive underneath the ice to map the environment and sample microbial life, according to a University of Wisconsin Madison news release.

The researchers intend for the submersible to be used to explore the frozen oceans on Jupiter's moon, Europa.

The UW-Madison's Center for Limnology will provide logistical support for the $2.3 million effort.

The robot is called ENDURANCE, which stands for Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-Ice Robotic Antarctic Explorer.

Further tests in Antarctica are planned later this year, according to the news release.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.