One of the perennial questions for humanity throughout time has been whether life exists outside of Earth.

For most of history, we had no means of answering that question. Living in the 21st century, we are fortunate to have the technology to explore and answer investigate some of our most burning questions about space and extraterrestrial life.

The SETI Institute tasks itself with exploring, understanding and explaining the origin and nature of life in the universe. In a recent trial, a SETI team used LIDAR technology equipped to a NASA-backed, Astrorobotic drone and mapped the Lofthellir Lava Tube Ice Cave in Iceland. LIDAR functions by sending out light waves and tracking the reflections to map remote areas.

The lava tube in Iceland was chosen because of the uniquely challenging environment it poses for drones as well as its similarity to caves that drones may one day explore on the Moon or Mars. The Astrobotic drone was able to map the 370-meter long Lofthellir Lava Tube in just minutes.

One of the perennial questions for humanity throughout time has been whether life exists outside of Earth.

For most of history, we had no means of answering that question. Living in the 21st century, we are fortunate to have the technology to explore and answer investigate some of our most burning questions about space and extraterrestrial life.

The SETI Institute tasks itself with exploring, understanding and explaining the origin and nature of life in the universe. In a recent trial, a SETI team used LIDAR technology equipped to a NASA-backed, Astrorobotic drone and mapped the Lofthellir Lava Tube Ice Cave in Iceland. LIDAR functions by sending out light waves and tracking the reflections to map remote areas.

The lava tube in Iceland was chosen because of the uniquely challenging environment it poses for drones as well as its similarity to caves that drones may one day explore on the Moon or Mars. The Astrobotic drone was able to map the 370-meter long Lofthellir Lava Tube in just minutes.