NASA proposes steam-powered hopping robot for missions to the solar system’s icy moons

The video introduces Sparrow, a steam-powered hopping robot designed to explore icy terrains on Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. Sparrow features avionics, instruments, and thrusters within a spherical shell. It uses steam propulsion to hop over large distances, navigating Europa's icy surface. After collecting samples, Sparrow returns to the lander for collection.

What is the purpose of the Sparrow robot?

Describe the features of the Sparrow robot's design.

How does the Sparrow robot generate steam for jumping?

What challenges does the Sparrow robot face on Europa's surface?

Explain the process of sample collection by the Sparrow robot.