The DEPTHX vehicle itself was reconfigured to create ENDURANCE, with a new science payload and new navigation systems added to meet the challenges particular to the frozen-over environment in Antarctica, where it spent two field seasons.
Co-investigators were Stone Aerospace, John Priscu of Montana State University, and NASA Ames Research Center.
[3] The project was the subject of an episode of National Geographic Explorer in 2010 which focused on the goal of discovering life on Jupiter's moon, Europa.
[12] In 2011, NASA awarded Stone Aerospace $4 million to fund the Phase 2 of project VALKYRIE (Very-Deep Autonomous Laser-Powered Kilowatt-Class Yo-Yoing Robotic Ice Explorer).
[14] The 5 kW power source on the surface uses optic fiber to conduct a high-energy laser beam to produce hot water jets that melt the ice ahead.
[4] Stone Aerospace is now integrating a prototype submersible called ARTEMIS (4.3 m long, 1,270 kg) [16] with the VALKYRIE technology to produce SPINDLE.