Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor

{{Short description|Jet Propulsion Laboratory Conceptual Probe}}

{{Orphan|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox individual space vehicle

| name = Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor

| mission =

| image = EELSRobot 9Link2 IceRink 7-13-22.original.jpg

| caption = Version 1.0 on ice rink (Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech)

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| owner = Jet Propulsion Laboratory

| manufacturer = Jet Propulsion Laboratory

| dimensions = {{cvt|4|m|ft}} long

| dry_mass = {{cvt|100|kg|lb}}

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Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor, (also called EELS) is a snakebot vehicle originally designed to explore the surface and the oceans of Enceladus, a moon of Saturn.{{cite news |last1=Howells |first1=Kate |title=How EELS could change the future of robotic exploration |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-eels-could-change-the-future-of-robotic-exploration |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=The Planetary Society |date=8 August 2024 |language=en}} The JPL has also referred to the possibility of using EELS to explore locations such as lunar lava tubes,{{cite web |last1=Wickens |first1=Katie |title=NASA's working on a wiggly snake-like autonomous Rover alternative to 'boldly go where no robot has gone before' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/nasas-working-on-a-wiggly-snake-like-autonomous-rover-alternative-to-boldly-go-where-no-robot-has-gone-before/ |website=PC Gamer |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=18 May 2023 |archive-date=18 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518150416/https://www.pcgamer.com/nasas-working-on-a-wiggly-snake-like-autonomous-rover-alternative-to-boldly-go-where-no-robot-has-gone-before/ |url-status=live }} Mars's polar caps, and Earth's ice sheets.{{cite web |title=A robot snake could help NASA scientists make contact with alien life |url=https://studyfinds.org/robot-snake-nasa-alien-life/ |website=StudyFinds |date=17 April 2023 |access-date=20 May 2023 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426163349/https://studyfinds.org/robot-snake-nasa-alien-life/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/how-we-do-it/systems/exobiology-extant-life-surveyor-eels/ |title=Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) |website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |access-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515141031/https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/how-we-do-it/systems/exobiology-extant-life-surveyor-eels/ |url-status=live }}

It uses multiple segments containing actuation, propulsion, power and, communication electronics. The segments use corkscrews to move across the ground.{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/11/nasa_eels_robot/ |title=NASA tests bot built to slither across, and beneath, alien worlds' ice |last=Vigliarolo |first=Brandon |publisher=The Register |date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514175414/https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/11/nasa_eels_robot/ |url-status=live }}

These corkscrews can act as propellers while underwater.

{{as of|2023|5|11}}, the current version (1.0) weighs approximately {{cvt|100|kg|lb}}, and is {{cvt|4|m|ft}} or 10 segments long. EELS has no scientific instruments, uses stereo cameras and Lidar, and it uses a tether for power and communications.