NASA’s Tiny Robot Fish Could Search for Alien Life in Icy Moons’ Oceans

 NASA has unveiled a futuristic vision with its SWIM bots—tiny robotic fish designed to explore hidden oceans on the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. These autonomous robots could dive into uncharted waters, potentially uncovering extraterrestrial life.

SWIM, which stands for Sensing With Independent Micro-swimmers, aims to probe the subsurface oceans of Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus, long considered prime locations for finding signs of life.

Since sending humans to these alien seas remains a distant dream, NASA’s miniature robots could safely venture where no human can.

Small but Mighty Prototypes
Current prototypes measure 16.5 inches and weigh five pounds. However, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory plans to shrink the final version to about the size of a smartphone.

Ethan Schaler, a robotics engineer at NASA, explains the significance:
"Why is NASA developing an underwater robot for space exploration? It’s because we want to explore places in the solar system where life might exist, and life as we know it needs water. So, we need robots that can navigate and operate autonomously, millions of miles from Earth."

Testing in Simulated Oceans
The prototypes have already been tested in a 75-foot swimming pool at the California Institute of Technology, showcasing their two propellers and four steering flaps designed for underwater navigation.

The robots are equipped to function independently, crucial for missions far from Earth. A sophisticated underwater acoustic communication system allows them to determine positions and transmit data.

NASA also ran simulations to replicate Europa’s harsh conditions, unleashing virtual swarms of 5-inch versions of the robots. In the simulations, these swarms—deployed in waves of a dozen robots each—could explore volumes as large as three million cubic feet of water within a two-hour battery lifespan.

A Step Towards Exploring Alien Oceans
While these prototypes are only the beginning, NASA is optimistic.
"It’s incredible to see a robot we’ve built from scratch operate successfully in a relevant environment," Schaler said.
The project marks a significant step toward preparing for missions to explore the oceans of distant worlds.

With advanced capabilities, these SWIM bots could one day unlock the mysteries hidden beneath icy alien oceans, bringing us closer to discovering life beyond Earth.