This paper describes the design and component testing of an aerobot that would be capable of global in situ exploration of Saturn's moon, Titan, over a 6 to 12 month mission lifetime. The proposed aerobot is a propeller-driven, buoyant vehicle that resembles terrestrial airships. However, the extremely cold Titan environment requires the use of cryogenic materials of construction and careful thermal design for protection of temperature-sensitive payload elements. Multiple candidate balloon materials have been identified based on extensive laboratory testing at 77 K.
An aerobot for global in situ exploration of Titan
35th Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Scientific Assembly ; 2004 ; Paris, France
2004-07-18
Conference paper
No indication
English
An aerobot for global in situ exploration of Titan
NTRS | 2004
|An aerobot for global in situ exploration of Titan
Elsevier | 2004
|An aerobot for global in situ exploration of Titan
Online Contents | 2006
|An aerobot for global in situ exploration of Titan
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006
|