The case for a Titan rover mission

[najab]

><i>Don't forget that Cassini was the last of the multi-billion dollar projects.</i><p>Actually, even under psycho-Dan they planned to do one "Flagship" mission every decade.<p>><i>.) I'm not sure that any of the proposals here can be done under Nasa's new motto: "Cheaper, Cheaper, Cheaper." (Please note that in Nasa-Speak both Better and Faster are synonyms for Cheaper. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />)</i><p>Fortunately, FBC went out the door with Dan. While NASA isn't getting wads of cash thrown at them, it doesn't seem that they are going to be starved for money as they were in the late 1990's.</p></p></p>

 

[jatslo]

I support a Titan rover missions!<br /><br />http://jatslo.com/

 

[robnissen]

On November 30, Stevehw33 wrote:<br /><br />"Peninsulas and archipelagos are features found on earth in oceanic regions. There are NO oceans on the moons of Saturn. It's all frozen waste. At MINUS 180 C. <br /><br />Therefore, there are no peninsulas, archipelagos, islands, reefs, atolls, or anthing else of that sort. Come back to ground."<br /><br />Typical Stevehw33 post. Opinions stated as facts: "there are no islands," etc.; and condescending: "come back to ground."<br /><br />But today Stevehw33 now has been forced to admit there there are liquids on Titan when he wrote:<br /><br />"Now that liquid methane appears to have been found on Titan, according to reports from the ESA today, perhaps falling as rain."<br /><br />Notice not a peep about the fact that his previous posts were completely wrong because Titan is NOT "all frozen waste."<br /><br />I am sure if an extraterrestial microbe is ever found, he will immediately start pontificating on that subject with complete and total silence regarding his previous position. All well, it takes all kinds.<br />

 

[meteo]

There would also be problems with controlling a hovercraft from earth (ie delay times) a hovercraft seems something you would need to control in real time, a completely AI computer system would be pretty risky.<br /><br />A rover would probably be the lowest risk. The rover with large floating wheels was a very interesting idea; but again likely higher risk (ie capsizing).

 

[rogers_buck]

The hovercraft that I have in mind would be analagous to a large inverted styrofoam bowl. Of course it wouldn't be styrofoam... Just light weight material with a skirt and a radioactive heat source to generate power, warm the electronics, and vaporize surface ices and ground liquids.<br /><br />It would be pretty much at the mercy of the winds on Titan, but could presumably be designed to stay upright for a wild ride down an aroyo and maybe a drop off a cliff. If it followed the drainage patterns at the surface and arrived at a lake it would be able to float over the lake. There would be some limited guidance capabilites by stopping, and directed venting, but the winds would be the real motivator. Onboard insturments could monitor the winds and start hovering/moving when they were in the desired direction. Real bone headed device.<br /><br />For added assurance of a good mission you could also pack a couple of inflatable He baloons onboard for short hops to new parts of the planet or in case youo get stuck.<br /><br />Anyway, something along those lines. Simple, no moving parts, cheap to build, as exotic as the environment, etc.<br />

 

[mcbethcg]

From what we saw of the surface images, I think it would be stuck all the time. It was a plain of rocks.<br /><br />Plus, hovercraft have a tendency to go down hill and resist going up hill. Even if it did not get stuck, I think it would end up confined to the shoreline of a sea.<br /><br />I think the best bet would be a nuclear powered hot air balloon, with a heavy sensor payload at the end of a long long rope, that gets dragged along the surface. Increase power to the heater if it gets stuck.<br /><br />Just hope it doesn't get hooked on a power line or fence.

 

[najab]

><i>Just hope it doesn't get hooked on a power line or fence.</i><p>Yeah, that would suck. Hopefully they have warning lights on their towers.</p>

 

[mcbethcg]

One problem with hot air balloon ideas, of course, is that they may be difficult to deploy reliably. Helium balloons are easier, but would eventually leak out.