Space & Astronomy

Plans to send a boat to Titan proposed

By T.K. Randall
September 28, 2012 ·  12 comments

Image Credit: NASA Saturn's moon Titan is one of the most Earth-like bodies ever discovered, clouded in a thick atmosphere the alien world exhibits spectacles that include lakes comprised of hydrocarbons and mountain peaks capped in an icy methane snow. Not only is there great interest in sending a probe to properly explore Titan but scientists believe that the most likely mission will involve landing a 'boat' in one of Titan's lakes, a first for any interplanetary endeavor.

The most promising candidate is the Lake In-Situ Sampling Propelled Explorer ( Talise ) which would sail around the largest lake near Titan's north pole using a paddling mechanism to propel itself along. "The main innovation in Talise is the propulsion system," said engineer Igone Urdampilleta. "This allows the probe to move, under control, from the landing site in the lake, to the closest shore."[!gad]Saturn's moon Titan is one of the most Earth-like bodies ever discovered, clouded in a thick atmosphere the alien world exhibits spectacles that include lakes comprised of hydrocarbons and mountain peaks capped in an icy methane snow. Not only is there great interest in sending a probe to properly explore Titan but scientists believe that the most likely mission will involve landing a 'boat' in one of Titan's lakes, a first for any interplanetary endeavor.

The most promising candidate is the Lake In-Situ Sampling Propelled Explorer ( Talise ) which would sail around the largest lake near Titan's north pole using a paddling mechanism to propel itself along. "The main innovation in Talise is the propulsion system," said engineer Igone Urdampilleta. "This allows the probe to move, under control, from the landing site in the lake, to the closest shore."

Source: Independent | Comments (12)

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