Titan Submarine
A model of the submarine
Mission typeReconnaissance and Titan submarine
Operator
Spacecraft properties
Dry mass500 kg[1]
Dimensions20 by 6.5 ft[2]
Start of mission
Launch date2030s-2040s
End of mission
Landing date2040-2045 (hypothetical)
Landing siteKraken Mare or Ligeia Mare
 

The Titan Submarine is a mission concept that was proposed by Steven Oleson, Ralph Lorenz, and Micheal Paul, technical experts at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. It will send a mobile submarine to Saturn’s moon Titan. The submarine would aim to explore either Kraken Mare or Ligeia Mare, two of Titan’s largest lakes.[3]

History

After the discovery of lakes and seas in Titan's northern hemisphere by the Cassini–Huygens probe on July 22, 2006, the Titan Mare Explorer was proposed in the same year. Along with the probe would be a follow-on mission for a proposed submarine on Titan.

The idea was later conceived in 2014, and the submarine was in development.[4]

Significant preparation is needed for such a difficult mission to Titan. It is projected to be launched in 2038 and arrive to Titan in 2045.

Overview

The Titan Submarine mission will help scientists understand Titan's hydrocarbon filled lakes, rivers, and seas. It will specialize in understanding if life can develop on the moon (and may also give us a better understanding on what life can form here), and will discover minerals and undersea features, which will help scientists understand the developmental process of these lakes, and understand Titan's minerals (and how they develop). The submarine will be powered by two stirling radioisotope generator.[5]

NASA started the production of the Titan Submarine, and started its Phase I concept in early 2015, until it changed to its Phase II concept in later months and was finished in November 2020, depicted as Titan Turtle. The submarine is now being advanced by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC).

Phase II will mainly focus on Titan's cryogenic environment.

Science objectives

The Titan Submarine will specialize in understanding how lakes forms on Titan and their properties. It will also help scientists understand Titan's undersea minerals and how they develop. It will also provide new insights into how our Earth looked billions of years ago, and how if gained life.[6]

Target

The Titan Submarine would either land in Kraken Mare (68°N 310°W), or would go to its counterpart Ligeia Mare (79°N 248°W).

Instruments

The submarine will be equipped with scientific instruments to help understand Titan's lakes.

Instrument list
Interior instruments
  • Command and data handling
  • Communications
  • Altitude determination and control [9]
Proposed instruments
  • Seafloor sample analyzer
  • Ventral imager [10]
Energy

The submarine will be equipped with 840 W of:

References

  1. ↑ "Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan". nasa.gov. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan". nasa.gov. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan". space.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken". nasa.gov. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "NASA Space Submarine Could Explore Titan's Methane Seas". space.com. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken". nasa.gov. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "NASA Space Submarine Could Explore Titan's Methane Seas". space.com. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan". space.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken Mare". nasa.gov. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Submarine could explore seas of huge Saturn moon Titan". space.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Exploring the depths of Kraken Mare – Power, thermal analysis, and ballast control for the Saturn Titan submarine". sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "NASA Space Submarine Could Explore Titan's Methane Seas". space.com. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

Further information

  • YouTube video gives an illustration on how the variety of instruments on board the submarine work.
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