This work examines the mechanical strength of Enceladus’ surface by testing ice analogues that replicate its plume-deposited top layer. Ice grains up to 100 µm were produced with a liquid-nitrogen spraying method and stored at –25 °C and –80 °C to study the effects of temperature and freezer time. The samples were tested under atmospheric and vacuum pressures using an adapted cone indentation method, providing both shear and compressive strength. Under atmospheric pressure, sintering leads to increasing strength with longer freezer time and warmer temperatures, with shear strengths of 20–220 kPa and compressive strengths of 40–475 kPa. In vacuum, a combination of effects result in uniformly weak strengths of ~10 kPa. These results indicate that Enceladus’ surface likely consists of a weak, unconsolidated snowy layer over a partially sintered brittle layer. This has direct implications for the design of future lander missions to Enceladus and other icy moons.

The aim of this research is to gain an understanding of the balance between guideline standardisation and professional autonomy. This includes its impact on the safety and quality of healthcare. These are crucial aspects of providing good care as they can contribute to an overall healthcare system that is effective, reliable, and patient-centered. The reason for performing this research is the difficulty of finding a balance between guideline standardisation and professional autonomy. While guideline standardisation is crucial to ensure a structured approach to uniform care of high quality, professional autonomy is necessary to individualise this care for each patient. At times, the tension between these aspects arises as medical practitioners feel limited in their professional autonomy, but healthcare organisations require a structural set-up of healthcare systems to provide equal care.

By performing interviews with guideline developers, doctors, and patients, this tension and possible contributing factors were explored through a technical, human, and organisational perspective. The identification of a need for the inclusion of the psychosocial elements, research regarding sensitivity around professional autonomy, and structural changes is beneficial to get to a point where it is possible to identify a balance between guideline standardisation and professional autonomy and its impact on the safety and quality of care. While multiple points for further research are indicated in this study, these three factors contribute to improving the situation of both the tension itself and the discussions around it.