PISCES

Abstract

The discovery of vast subsurface oceans beneath the thick ice crusts of icy moons in our Solar System has ignited global interest in their potential habitability and in the processes shaping these celestial bodies. With upcoming missions set to explore the Galilean and Cronian moons in the coming decades, experimental studies are essential for optimising mission planning, selecting and testing scientific instruments, and maximising the scientific return from future observations. In this paper, we present the Plumes and Ices Simulation Chamber for Enceladus and other moonS (PISCES) — a novel experimental setup designed to replicate the extreme environmental conditions of icy moons, with pressures reaching down to 3 × 10⁻⁵ mbar and temperatures as low as 80 K. PISCES enables controlled laboratory investigations of plume dynamics and surface interactions using a suite of integrated sensors and instruments. We describe the vacuum chamber setup, its capabilities, and its adaptability to various experimental configurations. To demonstrate its potential, we detail experiments simulating Enceladus’ plume activity with the Crevasse Laboratory Analogues for Moons (CLAM), an experimental apparatus employing 3D-printed cylindrical channels positioned above a liquid water reservoir within the vacuum chamber. This approach allows us to examine plume behaviour — including vent velocity, temperature, and particle size — in relation to subsurface conditions such as wall temperature, conduit dimensions, and expansion ratios. Ultimately, PISCES provides a groundbreaking platform for experimentally reproducing icy plumes under conditions analogous to those on Enceladus, advancing our understanding of plume physics and informing future planetary exploration efforts.