To explore the depths of the hydrocarbon rich seas on the Saturn moon Titan, a conceptual design of an unmanned submarine concept was recently developed for a Phase I NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study. Data from Cassini Huygens indicates that the Titan polar environment sustains stable seas of variable concentrations of ethane, methane, and nitrogen, with a surface temperature around 93K. To meet science exploration objectives, the submarine must operate autonomously, study atmosphere sea exchange, interact with the seabed at pressures up to 10 atm, traverse large distances with limited energy, hover at the surface and at any depth within the lake, and be capable of tolerating multiple different concentration levels of hydrocarbons. Therefore Titan presents many cryogenic design challenges. This paper presents the trade studies and preliminary design of the power, thermal, and ballast control subsystems for the Saturn Titan submarine.
Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken Mare
2015
23 pages
Report
No indication
English
Astronomy & Astrophysics , Extraterrestrial Exploration , Unmanned Spacecraft , Manned Spacecraft , Titan , Low temperature environments , Temperature control , Extraterrestrial oceans , Hydrocarbons , Submarines , Cryogenic equipment , In situ measurement , Electric power supplies , Stirling cycle , Radioisotope heat sources , Mission planning , Multidisciplinary design optimization
Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken Mare
AIAA | 2015
|Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken Mare (AIAA 2015-4445)
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2015
|TiME - The Titan Mare Explorer
IEEE | 2013
|Kamerleden kraken NS en de staatssecretaris
Online Contents | 2006