NASA engineer Ono reveals why a 4-meter snake robot might be the key to finding life on Enceladus.
This episode of Bilingual News features a special interview with NASA JPL engineer Hiro Ono. The hosts welcome Ono back after two years, and he introduces his work on the EELS robot, an acronym for Exobiology Extent Life Surveyor. Ono describes EELS as a 4-meter, 100-kilo snake-like robot with rotating screws, designed to explore vertical icy shafts on moons like Enceladus. He explains the robot's scale was determined for testing on glaciers, with the goal of reaching subsurface oceans to search for life. The discussion delves into the technical challenges, such as waterproofing, tether management, and adaptive navigation. Ono shares details about a three-week field test at the Athabasca Glacier in Canada, where a team of 30-40 engineers succeeded in achieving autonomous descent after initial failures. The conversation expands to broader space exploration themes, including the debate between targeting Europa or Enceladus for future missions, with Ono noting Enceladus's advantage due to its known vents. They discuss NASA's funding constraints, citing examples like the canceled Viper mission and Chandra X-ray observatory. The hosts and Ono explore the potential for lunar and Martian bases, emphasizing the use of lava tubes for radiation protection and the ethical dilemmas of mining ice for resources versus scientific study. Ono mentions his minor role in Perseverance rover operations and JPL's superstition of eating peanuts for luck during critical events. The episode concludes with light-hearted remarks about JPL culture and merchandise.
