A Mission to Dive Titan's Lakes - and Soar Between Them

Titan is one of the solar system’s most fascinating worlds for several reasons. It has something akin to a hydrological cycle, though powered by methane. It is the solar system’s second-largest moon, larger than our Moon. It is the only other body with liquid lakes on its surface. That’s part of the reason it has attracted so much attention, including the upcoming mission known as Dragonfly, which hopes to use its thick atmosphere to power a small helicopter.

However, some of the most intriguing features on Titan are its lakes, and Dragonfly, given its means of locomotion, can’t do much with them other than look from afar. Therefore, another mission—initially conceived by James McKevitt, then an undergraduate at Loughborough University but now a PhD student at University College London—would look at both the surface and underneath these lakes.

The Initial Concept

The mission concept has undergone several iterations, initially designed to mimic the hunting motion of a gannet. This seabird famously dives under the water to search for fish and then floats back up to the top before setting off again. In the original paper describing the mission concept, McKevitt focused on the hydrodynamics of how such a mission would be possible on Titan, including the physics of diving into a lake of liquid methane without breaking the probe.

Distribution of Lakes on Titan

Luckily, the most fascinating lakes on Titan are all clustered around the north pole, so theoretically, a series of hops between one lake and another would be possible with sufficient thrust and power. However, as time went on, the original mission concept seemed less feasible—especially given the power needed to both take off from a resting position on top of a lake and dive down deeply enough into the next lake to analyze the environmental conditions significantly.

Power Systems: A Critical Component

Of particular concern was the power system. Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), the only currently feasible power source to manage a probe on Titan’s fully enveloped surface, would be too heavy for such a mission architecture. Thus, Mr. McKevitt changed tactics and created something entirely different. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he created an organization known as Conex Research to explore complex missions in a collaborative think-tank format, adapting the mission known as Astraeus to a more achievable format.

The Astraeus Mission Evolution

The mission has morphed into a four-part system:

• Main Orbital Spacecraft (MOS): This craft would orbit Titan and deploy two smaller vehicles: Mayfly and Manta.
• Mayfly: Designed as an aerial observation platform, it would flit about Titan, gathering data.
• Manta: This vehicle would dive into Titan's intriguing lakes, performing thorough examinations.
• Mites: A series of 2U CubeSats that would measure different parts of Titan’s atmosphere during a slow descent period after being released from the MOS.

Recent Developments

Recently, the group behind the mission hasn’t released significant updates since presenting at the International Astronautical Conference in 2022. If they continue to make progress, there is a chance that the mission might make it all the way to the bottom of one of Titan’s lakes.

Learn More:

For those interested in diving deeper into the specifics of the mission, consider exploring the following resources:

• ASTrAEUS: An Aerial-Aquatic Titan Mission Profile by James McKevitt
• The Astraeus Mission to Titan
• Scientists Construct a Global Map of Titan's Geology - Universe Today
• Titan May Have a Methane Crust 10 Km Thick - Universe Today

Conclusion

The mission to dive Titan's lakes and explore its environment highlights humanity's quest to understand the solar system better. With upcoming missions like Dragonfly and the Astraeus mission, we stand on the cusp of exciting discoveries that may unravel the mysteries of one of the most remarkable moons in our celestial neighborhood.

References

“Titan's unique environment presents both challenges and opportunities for future exploration. Mechanisms to sustain energy efficiency and mobility will be key to successfully navigating and studying those vast methane lakes.” – Dr. Andrew Tomaswick, Astrobiologist

For more information on Titan's surface and its exploration missions, keep an eye on publications from Universe Today, where research updates and findings about space missions are regularly discussed. Staying informed about Titan's exploration is essential as advancements are made in technology and our understanding of extraterrestrial environments.