Orbiting Orediggers Prepare for the NASA Mars Ice Challenge

Colorado School of Mines students are designing and building a drilling and water collection apparatus as part of NASA's RASC-AL Special Edition Mars Ice Challenge.

The purpose of this competition is to explore the methods of extracting and isolating water from ice deposits that are believed to be just under Mars's surface. Part of this challenge includes adjusting the design to operate in the unique temperature and atmospheric pressure on Mars.

Mines is one of eight teams competing, and will be scored by the amount of water delivered, their presentation and poster, and by their technical paper outlining how their design is modified to work on Mars.