Magna Parva engineers develop ultrasonic space drill

The history of all planets lies underground: what geological processes shape its surface; the composition of its atmosphere over the aeons; the effect the sun’s radiation has had; even whether or not it has ever supported life. Of course, getting to other planets is a monumental task; landing on them, even more so. Drilling into their surfaces to get to the history hidden beneath? It’s so difficult that it’s never been done, at least not without human intervention.

The only planetary body where sub-surface rock samples have been collected is the moon and that was only because NASA went to the trouble of sending astronauts there with geological equipment. But plans to drill on the surface of Mars later this decade, and in later missions to the solid moons of Jupiter and Saturn, will not have the advantage of heavy equipment and hands-on operation. For these missions, there’s no option other than robotic exploration.