摘要 |
A thermal ice penetration method and apparatus for melting a hole through ice preferably utilizing thermochemical heating by exothermal reaction between water supplied at least in part by the melting ice and a thermochemical reactant, preferably lithium and/or other alkali metal or alkali metal alloy. A number of ice penetration systems and devices are disclosed which utilize the thermal ice penetration to deploy payloads, such as sensors, transducers, antennas, instruments, weapons, or the like, through polar ice either downwardly from the ice surface into the water below the ice or upwardly from the underside of the ice through the ice surface.
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