Titan Submarine

In early 2005, studies conducted by the Cassini-Huygens probe revealed organic compounds in Titan's atmosphere, raising the possibility of life on Titan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fuel_properties.php|title = Alternative Fuels Data Center: Fuel Properties Comparison}}{{cite news |last1=Vandel |first1=Omri |title=All the answers to the question is there life in space? |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3465434,00.html |newspaper=Ynet |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=29 November 2007}} Huygens's descent on Titan in 2005 provided significant data about Titan's atmosphere. During its 2-hour descent, Huygens supplied scientists with information suggesting a functioning climate system, water cycle, and the presence of organic matter and molecules.{{cite web |last1=Moskowitz |first1=Clara |title=Exotic Life Could Sprout From Titan Chemistry |url=https://www.space.com/6886-exotic-life-sprout-titan-chemistry.html |website=Space.com |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=25 June 2009}}

On July 22, 2006, the Cassini-Huygens probe conducted a flyby of Titan, passing at a distance of 148,000 km.{{cite web |title=Outbound View |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia08246-outbound-view |website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=18 August 2006}} The flyby revealed methane lakes on Titan's surface, providing evidence of the existence of liquid water, a hypothesis first suggested in 1995 following a Hubble Space Telescope observation of Titan.{{cite web |title=Hubble Observes Surface of Titan |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia01465-hubble-observes-surface-of-titan |website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=26 September 1998}}

As a result of these discoveries, NASA’s Institute for Advanced Concepts proposed the Titan Mare Explorer. However, the proposal was superseded in a 2012 vote by the InSight lander, which was tasked with studying Mars' core.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-will-send-robot-drill-to-mars-in-2016/2012/08/20/43bf1980-eaef-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_story.html |title=NASA will send robot drill to Mars in 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post |first=Brian |last=Vastag |date=August 20, 2012 }} However, both the Titan Mare Explorer and the Titan Submarine projects remain active under the auspices of NIAC.

The Titan Submarine initiated Phase I in 2014 and transitioned to Phase II, dubbed Titan Turtle, in November 2020. The Titan Submarine is still under development by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Loura |title=Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken |url=https://www.nasa.gov/general/titan-submarine-exploring-the-depths-of-kraken/ |website=Nasa.gov |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=14 June 2014}}

The submarine will be carried into space aboard an Atlas V rocket, accompanied by an unmanned Boeing X-37, which is designed to withstand the atmospheric conditions of Titan.{{cite web |title=תוכנית נאס"א: לשגר צוללת לחלל עד 2040 |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4626313,00.html# |website=ynet.co.il |publisher=Ynet |access-date=19 December 2024 |date=13 February 2015}}

The Titan Submarine will be equipped with radioisotope rockets, a type of thermal rocket that uses decaying radioactive elements, to propel the submarine for longer durations on Titan while conserving power on the probe. Radioisotope rockets utilize isotopes such as polonium-210 or plutonium-238, both of which have a half-life of approximately 80 years.{{Cite conference |last=LeMoyne |first=R. |date=September 2006 |title=Fundamental Analysis of Radioisotope Propulsion |url=http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2006-7272 |conference=Space 2006 Forum |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.2006-7272 |isbn=978-1-62410-049-9 |id=AIAA 2006-7272|url-access=subscription }} It will also be equipped with a sampler to collect samples of lakebed minerals and liquid methane and ethane hydrocarbons from Titan's water. Additionally, a camera will be attached to the front of the vessel.

File:Model of the Titan Submarine.png

The submarine is will aid scientists in refining models and simulations of undersea activity on Titan. It will contribute to the detection of elemental and chemical properties of the water, as well as undersea rocks and minerals. Additionally, it may help identify undersea seismic activity on Titan. The submarine will also collect data on the depth and temperature of specific locations within Titan’s lakes.

Additionally, theories propose the existence of a global subsurface ocean beneath Titan's surface. The mission aims to enhance understanding of subsurface oceans and explain the dramatic shifts in Titan's surface features. It may also provide insights into the impact of subsurface oceans on the geology beneath and above Titan's seas.{{cite web |title=Ocean may exist beneath Titan's crust |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Ocean_may_exist_beneath_Titan_s_crust |publisher=European Space Agency |access-date=19 December 2024 |date=25 March 2008}}

During certain parts of the mission, the submarine will partially emerge from the liquid hydrocarbons to study Titanian weather, tides, coastlines, and the unsolved observation surrounding disappearing islands or icebergs on Titan.{{Cite news |last1=Kahan |first1=Raphael |last2=Elam |first2=Harel |date=16 February 2015 |title=ים של כוכבים: נאס"א שולחת צוללת לטיטאן |url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3652558,00.html |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=Calcalist |language=he}}

• Liquid samplers
• Surface imager
• Depth sounder
• Weather sounder
• Side-scan sonar arrays

• Command and data handling
• Communications
• Altitude determination and control

• Seafloor sample analyzer
• Ventral imager

The submarine will be equipped with 840 W of:

• Isotope power systems
• Stirling radioisotope generator
• 2 eight-GPHS SRG (chosen as the baseline power system proving 900 W of DC power){{Cite journal |last1=Hartwig |first1=J. W. |last2=Colozza |first2=A. |last3=Lorenz |first3=R. D. |last4=Oleson |first4=S. |last5=Landis |first5=G. |last6=Schmitz |first6=P. |last7=Paul |first7=M. |last8=Walsh |first8=J. |date=March 2016 |title=Exploring the depths of Kraken Mare – Power, thermal analysis, and ballast control for the Saturn Titan submarine |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011227515001162 |journal=Cryogenics |series=2015 Space Cryogenics Workshop, June 24–26, 2015, Phoenix, AZ Hosted by NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, USA |volume=74 |pages=31–46 |doi=10.1016/j.cryogenics.2015.09.009 |bibcode=2016Cryo...74...31H |issn=0011-2275|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Leonard |title=NASA Space Submarine Could Explore Titan's Methane Seas |url=https://www.space.com/28589-titan-submarine-robotic-saturn-ship.html |website=Space.com |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=18 February 2015}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKxbdpLP5E YouTube video] gives an illustration on how the variety of instruments on board the submarine work.

{{Titan}}

{{Saturn spacecraft}}

Category:Research submarines of the United States

Category:Proposed NASA space probes

Category:Titan (moon)