NASA’s next Saturn mission; putting a drone on Titan

[AMann]

Dragonfly

Flights of Exploration Across Saturn's Moon Titan.

dragonfly.jhuapl.edu

 

[deleted member 877]

That is totally awesome! Beats the (Mod Removed Langage ) out of the slow land-based Rovers on Mars.

 

[Olav van Gerven]

Some important questions:
Is this drone registered with the Intergalatic Space and Transport Authorities?
Do the operators have a licence issued by the above mentioned Authorities?

If not, the drone will be seized and destroyed, the operators will face serious charges and in case of conviction extradition to Nova XY 350!

 

[Thomas B]

Dragonfly

Flights of Exploration Across Saturn's Moon Titan.

dragonfly.jhuapl.edu

Absolutely stellar!

 

[Thoraldus]

That is one bad dual quad-copter!!! It can:

• Sample surface material and measure with a mass spectrometer to identify the chemical components and processes producing biologically relevant compounds
• Measure bulk elemental surface composition with a neutron-activated gamma-ray spectrometer
• Monitor atmospheric and surface conditions, including diurnal and spatial variations, with meteorology sensors
• Use imaging to characterize geologic features
• Perform seismic studies to detect subsurface activity and structure
• Contribute to atmospheric profiles
• Provide aerial images of surface geology
• Give context for surface measurements and scouting of sites of interest

My M2P is jealous!

 

[Thoraldus]

For the technical among you, here is a fascinating document...

Dragonfly: A Rotorcraft Lander Concept for Scientific Exploration at Titan

 

[globetrotterdrone]

So, this is in CE or FCC mode? ??
It's totally awesome, Mars Rover Curiosity is being re-named as Jealousy!

 

[Thoraldus]

Only problem I have is if I am still around in 2034 when it lands on Titan!

 

[PortCanaveralFlorida]

 

[AnzacJack]

Interested in the battery tech on this. I imagine this would have been the biggest hurdle

 

[AMann]

Interested in the battery tech on this. I imagine this would have been the biggest hurdle

That little bugger is charged up between flights by an onboard radioisotope generator! ☢

They say it (the mission lifespan) will also have a two and a half year lifespan.

 

[Thoraldus]

That little bugger is charged up between flights by an onboard radioisotope generator! ☢

They say it will also have a two and a half year lifespan.

Current typical lifetime of the MMRTG is about 14 years. I think the mission planned lifetime is about 2 years.

 

[AMann]

Current typical lifetime of the MMRTG is about 14 years. I think the mission planned lifetime is about 2 years.

That’s what I meant- look at Voyager 1 and 2 !

 

[calmar81]

Some important questions:
Is this drone registered with the Intergalatic Space and Transport Authorities?
Do the operators have a licence issued by the above mentioned Authorities?

If not, the drone will be seized and destroyed, the operators will face serious charges and in case of conviction extradition to Nova XY 350!

Will be tricky to fly it in LOS, too ;-)

 

[John Done]

For a lot of space missions, it would be better to use reusable space tugs as they are auxiliary spacecraft made to assist in the direction of large ships and their cargo when maneuvering in orbital transfer fleets and transit corridors, for which attractive beams or magnetic clamps were used.