Nuclear Mission Envisioned for Titan

Experts who spent the last few years analyzing all the data that the Cassini orbiter sent back about Saturn's moon Titan dream of setting up a mission to the surface of the natural site. But, seeing how most of it is covered in an ocean of liquid hydrocarbons, landing a rover could prove difficult. Therefore, it may be that exploratory missions there will have to rely on lake landers, something that has not been attempted before. The lander and an atmospheric balloon for conducting observations could both be coordinated from a parent spacecraft in Titan's orbit, scientists say, quoted by Space.

The moon resembles our own planet in many regards. It has lakes and winds, waves and rain, except that liquid water is replaced by ethane and methane, as well as other forms of hydrocarbons. Temperatures are also extremely low, therefore experts at NASA are proposing that a nuclear-powered, unmanned capsule be sent to explore the lakes of Titan. Tiny cameras could also be dropped on the surface of the lakes, to assess their state, as well as the cycles that govern their appearance.

“We got funded to look at the possibility of sending a lake lander to Titan. Scientifically, it's sort of a beyond obvious thing to do,” Proxemy Research geologist Ellen Stofan says. In spite of the fact that the project is relatively well thought of, it also needs to be approved by NASA managers. If it passes the final review, it could be alloted to one of the space agency's upcoming Discovery missions. One of its main problems, the propulsion system, may be resolved by advancements that the agency made over the past few years, especially in the field of nuclear propulsion.

The Titan Saturn System Mission is one of NASA's older plans, but recent improvements to its design mean that it could be actually brought to fruition in about a decade. The freezing temperatures, of about -292 degrees Fahrenheit (-180 degrees Celsius), can cause damage and frostbites to any type of scientific equipment, therefore a very powerful heat source (read nuclear) is required for the mission. “It's very cold, but the technological challenges aren't as big as you might think. Landing in liquid is a lot more forgiving than on land,” the expert adds.