Just for fun - 30 minutes of probe data |
Just for fun - 30 minutes of probe data |
Nov 9 2009, 10:01 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 107 Joined: 29-January 09 Member No.: 4589 |
Suppose you could have 30 minutes worth of robotic probe data from any object in the Solar System (either in orbit around it or from the surface). The technology used should not be significantly advanced from that in use today (no tachyon scanners). What target would you choose, and why?
I think my choice would have to be a mini-submarine in the sunless seas on Europa equipped with a video camera (and a suitably strong source of light), a hydrophone and a mass spectrometer. Imagine hearing the creak of the ice, catching a glimpse of something unexpected on the camera and MS data of unusually complex organic molecules. Well I can dream, right? -------------------- Protein structures and Mars fun - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick960/
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Nov 9 2009, 11:13 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2785 Joined: 10-November 06 From: Pasadena, CA Member No.: 1345 |
My vote would be for a surface image and chemical analysis of the Equatorial Bright terrain on Titan a la Phoenix on Mars.
Is it deposit covered, is it raw bedrock? Is there a surface coating? Is it uniform or are there runnels everywhere? Can a drill reveal fresher surface material? Images of the terrain before and after drilling would be key. With only 30 minutes, you'd drill blind and image after, placing both samples into the respective ovens. An initial GC run of methane added to both samples stuff would give the initial background. A quick thaw in an oven to melt the ice and into the GCMS would narrow the guesses to the surface constituents*. (Or at least help constrain them). *after the surface materials have been exposed to non-native aqueous conditions at elevated temperatures and then subjected to vaporization, ionization and further heating. [This mission would be complementary to a Titan lake mission - here you'd get the background rock, and the insoluble surface coating. The lake lander will give information on the soluble chemical species.] -------------------- Some higher resolution images available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31678681@N07/
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