NASA is advancing technologies for autonomous spacecraft designed to explore “ocean worlds,” such as Europa and Enceladus, two of the most promising candidates for extraterrestrial life. According to a NASA report, the Ocean Worlds Lander Autonomy Testbed (OWLAT) and Ocean Worlds Autonomy Testbed for Exploration, Researchand Simulation (OceanWATERS) are key initiatives for enhancing robotic missions capable of operating in these challenging environments. Both OWLAT, developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and OceanWATERS, created at Ames Research Center, simulate lander operations under low-gravity and icy surface conditions. OWLAT includes a physical testbed with a robotic arm and tools for sampling, while OceanWATERS offers a virtual…

NASA is advancing technologies for autonomous spacecraft designed to explore “ocean worlds,” such as Europa and Enceladus, two of the most promising candidates for extraterrestrial life. According to a NASA report, the Ocean Worlds Lander Autonomy Testbed (OWLAT) and Ocean Worlds Autonomy Testbed for Exploration, Research, and Simulation (OceanWATERS) are key initiatives for enhancing robotic missions capable of operating in these challenging environments.