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Space & Astronomy

Plans to send a boat to Titan proposed

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

Image Credit: NASA
Scientists are exploring possible ways in which to send a probe to Titan that can sail on its lakes.
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."
Plans to send an interplanetary pedalo to Saturn's largest moon Titan have been unveiled by scientists. The robot craft would land in one of the moon's lakes and sail around propelled by paddles.


Source: Independent | Comments (12)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #3 Posted by Idano 12 years ago
but will it dream?
Comment icon #4 Posted by Darkwind 12 years ago
Only if they send a pole and bait.
Comment icon #5 Posted by King Fluffs 12 years ago
Nice.
Comment icon #6 Posted by Jacques Terreur 12 years ago
let the Mythbusters handle this!!!!!
Comment icon #7 Posted by justcalmebubba 12 years ago
cool pirates of titan sounds like a hell of a sci fi book will there be vampires or zombies? maybe hybreeds of both? think ill get started write ing this out thanks for the idea ... now need an idea for a realy hard core bad ass chic with a sudctive sexyness like poisen ivy maybe bigger boobs and deep blood red hair wearing a full body leather suit and mmmm hip high hooker boots ? will have to get a pair for my ol lady and see how it looks she is my insperation
Comment icon #8 Posted by TheGreatBeliever 12 years ago
Frankly if telescopes nowadays can see planets hundreds or even thousands of light years away, why cant they see whats on those planets?
Comment icon #9 Posted by TheDarkEnergy 12 years ago
Frankly if telescopes nowadays can see planets hundreds or even thousands of light years away, why cant they see whats on those planets? Titan's atmosphere is covered with methane clouds, making telescopes useless.
Comment icon #10 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 12 years ago
Frankly if telescopes nowadays can see planets hundreds or even thousands of light years away, why cant they see whats on those planets? Actually, in most cases they can't see planets at that distance. There are only a handful of directly observed exoplanets (less than 5% of the total). The rest have been detected by indirect means, so your question comes from an incorrect assumption anyway. Let's put your logic in to a similar question shall we. If your binoculars can see a bird in a tree half a mile away why can't you see how many fleas the bird has? Being able to see an object and being abl... [More]
Comment icon #11 Posted by thewild 12 years ago
I think its a great idea, but they will have to make it relatively hard to sink..it might look more like a beach ball than a boat. They might have to make it indigestible as well..
Comment icon #12 Posted by Chooky88 12 years ago
I hope they paint it Pea Green!


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