Titan + Enceladus = Goose bumps, Tomorrow is just ahead! |
Titan + Enceladus = Goose bumps, Tomorrow is just ahead! |
Mar 12 2007, 03:22 PM
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Special Cookie Group: Members Posts: 2168 Joined: 6-April 05 From: Sintra | Portugal Member No.: 228 |
I thought about a new thread since there are possibilities of an incredible future mission.
The idea is to know what would people like to see on a mission like that, nature of probes, instruments, experiments...you name it! -------------------- "Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Alan Poe |
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Mar 15 2007, 08:59 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2785 Joined: 10-November 06 From: Pasadena, CA Member No.: 1345 |
Sure wish we could scoop up some of this Titan goop. But VERY GINGERLY. Craig Maybe a sample return mission from Titan is reasonably doable after all. Getting a package to Titan's surface has been done (Huygens landed and survived) Getting a package off Titan's surface may be a bit trickier, but Titan has the bonus of liquid fuel in the form of Methan/ethane. We would only need to supply the oxidizer (oxygen). I picture an atmospheric balloon with multiple sample containers. It sets down, scoops stuff into a container. Proceeds to the next location, scoops more in, etc.. It finally drifts over to a methane/ethane lake, fills up the propellant tanks for the escape package. Floats up to maximum altitude and the escape package (which has the oxygen tank) ignites, separates and goes back to Earth on a long slow trajectory. Even after the escape package separates, the balloon could still maintain a smaller instrument package for surface imaging, MS analysis, and other meteorological analysis for a long duration stay in the Titan atmosphere. Even a small amount of non-volatile material from the Titanian surface delivered to Earth would speak infitine volumes about Titan surface chemistry and the potential for life. -Mike -------------------- Some higher resolution images available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31678681@N07/
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Mar 16 2007, 04:01 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 |
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Mar 16 2007, 04:47 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
Sadly, this isn't much of a win. When you burn methane or ethane in oxygen, 2/3 of the mass comes from the oxygen. --Greg I guess the problem is assuaged by the fact that a nuclear power source could extract oxygen from ice, if H2O is within grabbing distance. That may not be a trivial assumption or engineering feat. And it leaves the problem that this rocket ultimately has to escape not just Titan but Saturn. |
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