Penetrator eyes icy moon quest
UK engineers are developing a projectile technology they believe could be used to explore the Solar System.
The steel penetrator can be dropped onto a planet or moon to investigate what lies beneath their surfaces.
It will have to withstand immense deceleration forces, but could prove to be a very inexpensive way to land instruments on other worlds.
This video shows how the technology would be used at Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
Video courtesy of Astrium
12 Jul 2013
- From the section Science & Environment