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For comparison, the furthest we've dug down is about 8 miles, and Europa's ice crust is estimated to be 10-15 miles. So, yeah that would be like us getting disc
by abracadaniel 3y ago
For comparison, the furthest we've dug down is about 8 miles, and Europa's ice crust is estimated to be 10-15 miles. So, yeah that would be like us getting discovered by mole people from nearly twice the depth we're capable of reaching. It's fun to think about what a civilization on Europa would think about their world. You can go up, but it gets colder and the pressure gets lower. It'd be like trying to go to space, but you have to dig to get there. Perhaps the change in density would make any such upward drilling unstable and beyond their means.
- sgt 3y agoNo need to dig, you just melt yourself downwards. It's not exactly like digging through rocks on Earth.
- Auracle 3y agoOf course, barring collapse, the rocks won’t reform right above you as you go.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- sgt 3y agoI wonder if one can apply some heat to the cable or wire dropping you down, and thus create a more open conduit.
- superhumanuser 3y agoWould liquid pool up as you melt the ice? I guess you'd need to pump it out. Is that even possible at that depth? The liquid might boil on the way up.
- mrguyorama 3y agoYour craft is denser than the liquid, so you just kinda drop through it and keep melting.
- evrimoztamur 3y agoDoesn't the heat you have to produce increase as you go deeper?
- abracadaniel 3y agoIn this case, the digging is from the perspective of a Europan living under the ice, and having to dig to go up.
- dylan604 3y agoWhat's the pressure like at that depth? That seems like it would have some implications to be dealt with
- hermitcrab 3y agoIIRC the pressure at the bottom of Europa's theorized ocean in similar to at the bottom of earth's ocean. The greater depth is compensated by the lower graviation field.
- yegle 3y agoOh this reminds me of Cixin Liu's (of the Three Body Problem fame) short scifi Mountain. It describes an alien species that lives in the mantle of a planet. Their explorer finally dug through to the crust, when they were met with never before seen liquid water that instantly kills them as well as their (non water proof) equipments. Fascinating short story.