Why should we study icy ocean worlds in UK planetary science?

Icy ocean worlds are the moons of the outer solar system that contain vast, global oceans hidden beneath their frozen surfaces. They are thought to be the most likely candidates to support habitable environments outside of Earth. Understanding the habitable potential of these worlds relies on our understanding of the fundamental processes that govern their interiors, near-space environments, and orbits. Below is a white paper submitted to the UK Space Frontiers 2035 programme, advocating for the continued science prioritisation of these bodies, and others like them, in the next decade of UK planetary science.