News releases

Feb. 8, 2008

TO: Editors, News Directors
FROM: Terry Devitt, (608) 262-8282, trdevitt@wisc.edu
RE: TIP/UNDERWATER ROBOT TAKES A TEST DRIVE IN LAKE MENDOTA

In a prelude to tests in Antarctica and, ultimately, a mission to the ice-bound oceans of Jupiter's moon Europa, NASA and researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago will be testing an underwater robot next week (Feb. 11-15) beneath the ice of Madison's Lake Mendota.

With logistical support from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Limnology, scientists will take the submersible ENDURANCE - Environmentally Non-Disturbing Under-Ice Robotic Antarctic Explorer - for a series of test-drives in the icy waters of Madison's largest lake.

ENDURANCE is designed to swim under the ice, create three-dimensional maps of the underwater environment and sample microbial life. The $2.3 million project is intended to demonstrate concepts and technology for exploring the frozen ocean on Europa. Plans call for the robot to be shipped later this year to Antarctica, where it will be used to map Lake Bonney, a 2.5-mile long, one-mile wide and 130-foot deep perpetually ice-covered lake.

A short informal press briefing has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the UW-Madison Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. (Check Today in the Union for the room where the briefing will be held.) Afterward, media will be invited to see ENDURANCE as it is tested in Lake Mendota off of Alumni Pier.

CONTACT: Peter Doran, associate professor and graduate director, earth and environmental sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, (312) 413-7275, pdoran@uic.edu.

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