NASA has developed robots to search for extraterrestrial life in the Solar System. Here’s what we know so far (video).

Small robots designed to search for extraterrestrial life on Jupiter's moon, where an ocean of liquid water lies beneath the surface, have begun their journey in a pool on Earth, reports Space.

NASA has developed robots called Sensing With Independent Microswimmers (SWIM) to send them to the oceanic moon Europa. Their mission is to look for signs of life in the salty underground ocean of this world. Recently, SWIM robots underwent testing in a pool at the California Institute of Technology, where they showcased impressive maneuverability.

Scientists believe that if extraterrestrial life exists on Europa, it, like life on Earth, requires water to survive. The small SWIM robots will assist in detecting the necessary chemical conditions for life and possibly even extraterrestrial microorganisms.

So far, a prototype robot has been used during testing, which was 3D printed from plastic and assembled using inexpensive motors and electronics. These robots will eventually be equipped with wireless underwater communication systems to transmit data and determine their location while exploring the underground ocean on Europa.

The prototype robot used in the tests measures 42 cm in length. The operational version of the robots will be 12 cm long.

According to scientists at NASA, underwater robots are complex constructs, and improvements are currently underway before a series of fully operational underwater robots are created to head to Europa. The tests showed that the robot effectively handles the tasks set in the aquatic environment, while scientists also identified areas for further enhancement.

Additionally, NASA scientists are testing SWIM robots in computer simulations that replicate the pressure and gravity the robots will encounter on Europa.

One of the key innovations developed for the robots is a tiny sensor chip capable of measuring temperature, pressure, acidity, conductivity, and the chemical composition of the underground ocean while searching for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Scientists believe that the hidden ocean on Europa contains twice as much water as all the oceans on Earth combined. Therefore, this moon of Jupiter is considered one of the most promising locations in the Solar System for the search for extraterrestrial life.