NASA has recently stated that it will be sending a probe to Titan, the largest natural satellite that orbits Saturn. Designated “Dragonfly,” it has the ability to fly within the moon’s atmosphere and land at will by use of propellers. The spacecraft is part of the ambitious New Frontiers program set up by NASA. The same program that saw the launch of the New Horizons craft that first surveyed Pluto.
New Frontiers program
New Frontiers is a major space exploration program that is being spearheaded by NASA. The organization is encouraging scientists worldwide to submit proposals for different missions. All of which, designed to research different points of interest within the solar system.
The program has 3 missions currently under its belt. The above mentioned New Horizon, Juno and OSIRIS-REx. The second mission is orbiting Jupiter and the third is studying asteroid Bennu.
NASA’s Dragonfly space probe and Titan, Saturn’s largest moon
Project Dragonfly was chosen from about a dozen other initiatives, even beating out a mission to collect comet samples. The craft is scheduled to launch in 2026 and make its arrival on Saturn’s moon in 2034. It will also be nuclear powered.
The mission objectives are landing in multiple locations. First on some of the dunes and in a crater afterward. Its major purpose is to study the life-sustaining capabilities of the Saturn’s moon Titan. The max budget concerning mission development is set at $850 million.
The moon is probably the most promising spot in the solar system because of its thick atmosphere, methane deposits, ice formations, and vast oceans. Scientists involved with the mission and its follow up study comment: “What really excites me about this mission is that Titan has all the ingredients needed for life. We are absolutely thrilled, and everyone is just raring to go and take the next steps in exploring Titan.”
Bo has over six years experience as a teacher, advocate and speaker. He has a B.S. from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Human rights from Harvard University Graduate School.