NASA tests bot built to slither across, and beneath, alien worlds' ice

The latest in high-concept automated space exploration tech from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory looks to have been screwed up and twisted – by design. JPL's Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor, aka EELS, is an autonomous rover built by connecting articulated segments outfitted with corkscrews that give it the ability to "slither …

[Neil Barnes]

Slither of the machines?

I, for one, etc...

[Nik 2]

Re: Slither of the machines?

Robot underlords?

[nematoad]

Well done.

Have a beer on my for the correct use of the word slither.

Oh, by the way, the robot looks pretty amazing as well, but that doesn't surprise me. NASA has some amazingly talented engineers.

[david willis]

Re: Well done.

yup!

https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-16-fartier-glitter-bomb-2-feat-macaulay-culkin.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMnP_y_fb5MIpitHLpxePFuiH84vrjnX-y4GhowSonCA0wRTQy1OlNEf_RJNg-ZVyqO9bUFKd1DEjTqIvSa7v6e0NeXXb1Eb5PJO_M3k3QvNeDaUrn2TzjwipduCtDvpxjLn-GMykf1BEdBOUIo416W94NsA0Yh7g4fJH_9npuvZ

[claimed]

Avoid LOS

Lots of testing in glaciers and mountains is the only way. “Get out of that one!”

[Francis Boyle]

Looks

How shall I put this, phallic. I wonder how long before there's porn of this. Oh, wait! There already is, in Japan.

(Given that these prototypes all seem to be tethered, I'm forced assume that the production models will have two spheres at the rear. To house the batteries, of course.)

[WereWoof]

Doomed

“ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA.

ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE.

USE THEM TOGETHER. USE THEM IN PEACE.”

Arthur C Clarke,

[LoPath]

Tremors!

Where is Kevin Bacon when you need him??

[Tim Cockburn]

Typical Nasa

Spend almost all your money on futuristic research into how to behave when you get somewhere. Much easier than actually concentrating on how to arrive in the first place. Oh you can spend the rest in going somewhere you've been before.