Underwater Robot To Take Dip In Lake Mendota Monday
NASA, University Of Illinois Researchers Conducting Experiment
Updated: 4:31 pm CST February 8, 2008
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.
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