Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory has officially entered the stage of assembling one of the most unusual devices in the history of space exploration - the Dragonfly unmanned rotorcraft. The newest drone is a fully autonomous robot the size of a small car. Unlike rovers, which cover several tens of kilometers for years, the flying researcher will be able to "jump" over huge distances, exploring different regions of Titan in a single flight session.
Once on the surface of the satellite in 2034 year, the apparatus will deal with complex analysis: from studying the composition of the atmosphere to seismic measurements. The chemical composition of the surface is of greatest interest. Under a thick layer of ice on Titan hides a global ocean of salt water, making this world one of the most promising places to look for alien life.
The total cost of the mission is estimated at 3 billion dollars. Because Dragonfly is designed to last, solar energy will not help him - too little light penetrates through Titan's thick smog. Therefore, Dragonfly will run on nuclear power. The device will be equipped with a multipurpose radioisotope thermoelectric generator. The plutonium fuel rods will generate heat, which will turn into electricity, powering the electronics, servo drives and scientific instruments. This technology has already successfully proven itself on the Curiosity rover
та Perseverance.
The start of the mission is scheduled for 2028 a year using SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. After takeoff, the device will spend six years in space, flying through the solar system, and in 2034 it will finally spread its propellers over lakes and rivers of liquid ethane.
Source: https://universemagazine.com