At the end of June, the TRIPLE system completed integration tests at the Alfred Wegener Institute’s (AWI) Technicum in Bremerhaven, ahead of the 2026/27 test campaign on the Ekström Shelf Ice.
The campaign verified mechanical compatibility, power supply, and communications between the IceCraft melting probe and its integrated payloads: the Launch and Recovery System (LRS) for the nanoAUV, the Science Payload IceCraft (SPI) and the Forefield Reconnaissance System (FRS). After component checks, the team confirmed power and data links across the probe; all subsystems powered up and communicated.
Tests also evaluated the climbing mechanism and underwater operation with the payload.
It was shown that the climbing mechanism is capable of lifting/lowering the melting probe with fully integrated payload.
Climbing test with fully assembled melting probe including LRS, SPI and FRS.
The assembly of the melting probe was additionally used to capture, examine and plan the ground loops to ensure quick and efficient mission setup for the Neumayer III test campaign.