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NASA announces nuclear robotic submarine to explore Titan’s ocean

12 points by lettergram 12y ago

thomasfl 12y ago
As the only planet on the solar system with stable bodies liquid and atmosphere, this is got to be the ultimate frontier in exploration.
orik 12y ago
I'm more concerened with a rocket launch failing spectacularly when the payload includes a nuclear reactor. Has anything like this been attempted before?
- pavel_lishin 12y ago
  RTGs[1] have, but apparently SRGs[2] haven't. I can't see any reason for this to be any more dangerous than the other nuclear stuff we've launched into space. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator#Space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_ge... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_radioisotope_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_radioisotope_generato...
- virtuallynathan 12y ago
  Yes, the Curiosity rover has (i believe) a similar nuclear power source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_gen...
mojoe 12y ago
Here's the 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference PDF source: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1259.pdf http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1259.pdf And here is a video NASA released regarding the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKxbdpLP5E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKxbdpLP5E
jordanpg 12y ago
I sure hope the idea of Jupiter and Saturn moon missions captures the public's eye and become economically feasible in my lifetime. In the spectrum of space missions that might actually happen someday, they have the most manageable timeline for a single generation and are easily the most exciting. I'm much more interested in reading about an analysis of a Europan water sample than than about a human setting foot on Mars. The problems associated with operating a submersible are formidable, even in the best cases here on Earth. Coupling this engineering problem with the one of sending a spacecraft to safely Saturn seems a daunting but noble task to me!
- IndianAstronaut 12y ago
  It is economically feasible. It requires a budget addition of a few hundred million dollars to NASA. Not much in the scope of things. To push for this I recommend visiting http://www.planetary.org/sos http://www.planetary.org/sos and advocate for it

12 points by lettergram 12y ago

As the only planet on the solar system with stable bodies liquid and atmosphere, this is got to be the ultimate frontier in exploration.

orik 12y ago

I'm more concerened with a rocket launch failing spectacularly when the payload includes a nuclear reactor. Has anything like this been attempted before?

pavel_lishin 12y ago
RTGs[1] have, but apparently SRGs[2] haven't. I can't see any reason for this to be any more dangerous than the other nuclear stuff we've launched into space. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator#Space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_ge... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_radioisotope_generator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_radioisotope_generato...
virtuallynathan 12y ago
Yes, the Curiosity rover has (i believe) a similar nuclear power source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_gen...

mojoe 12y ago

Here's the 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference PDF source: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1259.pdf http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1259.pdf And here is a video NASA released regarding the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKxbdpLP5E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKxbdpLP5E

jordanpg 12y ago

I sure hope the idea of Jupiter and Saturn moon missions captures the public's eye and become economically feasible in my lifetime. In the spectrum of space missions that might actually happen someday, they have the most manageable timeline for a single generation and are easily the most exciting. I'm much more interested in reading about an analysis of a Europan water sample than than about a human setting foot on Mars. The problems associated with operating a submersible are formidable, even in the best cases here on Earth. Coupling this engineering problem with the one of sending a spacecraft to safely Saturn seems a daunting but noble task to me!

IndianAstronaut 12y ago
It is economically feasible. It requires a budget addition of a few hundred million dollars to NASA. Not much in the scope of things. To push for this I recommend visiting http://www.planetary.org/sos http://www.planetary.org/sos and advocate for it