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View Full Version here: : Deciding on which outer solar system moon to visit

sheeny
23-01-2009, 08:24 AM
This article from Nature discusses to competition between rival missions to an outer solar system moon.

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090121/full/457366a.html

Should it be Europa or Titan?

Just for fun, we'll have our own poll...:)

Al.
renormalised
23-01-2009, 09:15 AM
There you go Al, it's unanimous, 100%. We goto Europa!!:P:D
Chippy
23-01-2009, 10:42 PM
It's a tough one because both are very intriguing and beckon with a lot of potentially amazing discoveries. I vited Titan because it is the most "Earth like" object in our solar system in many respects!
Outbackmanyep
24-01-2009, 11:55 AM
Sometimes i can't understand scientists, why not just go where the water is!!!!
OneOfOne
25-01-2009, 10:12 AM
Ultimately Titan is the more "doable" as you don't have to melt your way through a huge block of ice. Once through ice, you are on whatever battery power you have left. Titan, you just put out a parachute and either land on dirt or land in a methane lake and pop out a life raft. With all the methane floating around, maybe they can utilise this as a source of energy to power the craft for a long period of time. Having done Titan...they would be in a better position to know more of the problems they may encounter at Europa, and be more likely to succeed.
sheeny
27-02-2009, 07:56 AM
Nasa and ESA have decided...

(no doubt firmly infuenced by our poll:P 11:9)

...and the winner is...

Europa!

Actually plans are to send two orbiters: the NASA made one will explore Europa, the ESA made one will explore Ganymede. Planned launch date is 2020, with ETA of 2026.

A mission to Titan is likely to go ahead after that, but more time is needed to plan it.

More here:

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090225/full/4571070d.html

Al.