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Simulation and Dynamic Modeling of a Thermomechanical Ice Probe
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Ice-penetrating probes are useful tools for research on Earth, particularly for studying
liquid water underneath or surrounded by ice. In recent decades, interest has grown in the
use of ice probes for exploring the subsurface oceans thought to exist on some of the Solar
System’s icy worlds. While much work has been done on the thermal power requirements
of such probes, little modeling work has been published on hybrid thermomechanical drilling
probes. In this paper, a method is developed for simulating the descent trajectory of a hybrid
thermomechanical probe through the ice shell of Jupiter’s moon Europa. This method com bines independent calculations of the velocity contributions from drilling and melting and a
strategy for determining the conditions required for melting. Trajectories and descent time
estimates are given for a range of different assumptions. Finally, the problem of melt probe
attitude stability is briefly discussed and initial modeling efforts are presented.