Technology to explore icy worlds and martian caps?

The article "Drilling Into Alien Oceans" ( www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080828-a ... l-ice.html ) is the first I know that reports details about a concept and prototype capable of penetrating through the ice of Europa, Enceladus and Titan - supposedly other such worlds as well - and the polar ice caps of Mars.

Obviously there is a kind of projectile that melt itself through the ice and drills itself through rocks and layers of dust if required. When chieving lquid water a cryobot is released.

What about it?

The cryobot could send data to the proejctile which next might relay it to Earth or an orbiter as additional relay station. Would this require a wire towards the surface?

What about using such a concept for manned missions?

The prototype described is 1.5 meters long and melts a hole of 15 centimeters diameter.

...?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)