NASA is developing a snake-like robot to slither through a Saturn moon in search of life
CBSN
Is there life outside of Earth? A new snake-like robot could be the one to find out.
The Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a space mission to Enceladus, one of Saturn's 83 moons known for its icy surface that's the whitest and most reflective in the solar system. It's believed that there is a liquid ocean under the ice, prompting further investigation into whether life exists within it.
According to the Jet Propulsion Lab, EELS is a "snake-like, self-propelled robot" made of segments with "first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units" that allow it to grip surfaces and move underwater. The hope is that the robot snake will be able to slither its way through vents on Enceladus' surface to get into the ocean below.
