MOON + MARS ON EARTH: Lofthellir Lava Tube Ice Cave, Iceland: Exploration & Mapping via Drone LiDAR

Video of the investigation of the Lofthellir Lava Tube Ice Cave in Iceland using Astrobotic’s LiDAR-equipped hexacopter drone to create the first 3D map of a lava tube and ice-rich cave. Analogous ice-rich lava caves might exist on the Moon and Mars, and might one day be explored using propulsive free-flying drones. Field expedition and science team led by Pascal Lee of the SETI Institute. Drone LiDAR project led by Andrew Horchler of Astrobotic. Research supported by NASA, Mars Institute, and Dubai Future