"Dragonfly" Titan explorer drone, NASA funds Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) |
"Dragonfly" Titan explorer drone, NASA funds Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) |
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![]() Junior Member ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 66 Joined: 3-August 12 Member No.: 6454 ![]() |
Is there a specific website for this Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) concept for a Titan explorer drone?
Looks to be an RTG powered machine, somewhat reminiscent of MSL Curiosity (RTG sticking out the tail end). But no camera mast, ChemCam, or sampling arm visible in the concept illustration. QUOTE Dec. 20, 2017 RELEASE 17-101 NASA Invests in Concept Development for Missions to Comet, Saturn Moon Titan Dragonfly Dragonfly is a drone-like rotorcraft that would explore the prebiotic chemistry and habitability of dozens of sites on Saturn’s moon Titan, an ocean world in our solar system. Elizabeth Turtle from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, is the lead investigator, with APL providing project management. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-inv...turn-moon-titan |
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![]() Merciless Robot ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 ![]() |
<shrug> Many, many years ago one of our mods suggested that the surface could have significant amounts of azides, which might detonate on contact. Huygens apparently only landed once, so that's probably not a significant risk. Huygens also didn't ooze downward into the cryogenic equivalent of quicksand, so the surface material did not experience a phase change from the impact.
At least all that's true of where Huygens landed. Might be completely different 100m away. Titan's geochemistry may well be more complex than that of Earth for all we know. We don't know. That's why we're exploring. This will involve risk. The Dragonfly team is without question composed of the most qualified people in the world for this job, and nobody here is qualified to second-guess their design choices. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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