ASTROBOTICS HAS APPROACHED ISRU ABOUT A PAYLOAD FOR THEIR X-PRIZE MISSION TO A LUNAR REGION WHERE ICE IS BELIEVED TO LIE UNDER METER OF SOIL. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A METHOD OF INSERTING A SENSOR THROUGH THE SOIL/ICE TO VERIFY THE PRESENCE, NATURE, AND CONCENTRATION OF ICE, WHICH WILL REVOLUTIONIZE SPACE EXPLORATION. THE TECHNOLOGY TO INSERT THE SENSOR WILL LIKEWISE BE REVOLUTIONARY. WE WILL USE A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL PERCUSSION AND/OR GAS-PULSING. PRELIMINARY TESTS INDICATE EITHER WILL EASILY CUT THROUGH THE ICY REGOLITH, SO THAT EVEN A VERY LIGHTWEIGHT ROVER IN 1/6 GEE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE WEIGHT TO DO THE INSERTION. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF ICE CREATES SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY, WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS RESEARCH. WE WILL INVESTIGATE WHETHER AN ULTRASONIC PIEZOELECTRIC WAFER IS NEEDED NEAR THE TIP TO CUT THROUGH ROCK AND ICE, OR A HEATER IS NEEDED TO MELT THROUGH ICE. A STRAIN CELL WILL EXTRACT FORCE DATA, PROVIDING AN INFERENCE OF ICE CONTENT AT ALL DEPTHS. THE COMPANION PROPOSAL (ISDS FOR WATER DETECTION ON THE LUNAR SURFACE) WILL DEVELOP THE DIELECTRIC/THERMAL SENSOR TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE ICE. OUTLINE OF EACH OF THE SPECIFIC TASKS: 1. PREPARE ICE-SIMULANT MIXTURES, USING VIBRATIONAL COMPACTORS TO ACHIEVE LUNAR SOIL DENSITIES AND A LIQUID NITROGEN BATH TO FREEZE THE MIXTURE TO CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES. 2. MEASURE BULK DENSITY AND ICE CONTENT, AND TEST MECHANICAL STRENGTH USING A STANDARD CONE PENETROMETER AND SHEAR VANE APPARATUS 3. MODIFY PROCEDURE UNTIL SEVERAL ICE CONTENT/DENSITY STATES CAN BE REPEATEDLY ACHIEVED. 4. MODIFY EXISTING, INSTRUMENTED CONE PENETROMETER TO INCLUDE GAS PULSING AND PERCUSSION AND VERIFY OPERATION ON DRY SOIL (NO ICE). 5. PERFORM TESTING ON ICY REGOLITH AND MODIFY PULSING/PERCUSSION PARAMETERS TO MINIMIZE PENETRATION RESISTANCE. 6. REPEAT TESTING ON SEVERAL SOIL MIXTURES TO OBTAIN CORRELATION OF MECHANICAL DATA WITH ICE CONTENT/DENSITY. 7. WRITE A FINAL REPORT.