NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan Set for 2028 Launch
The mission aims to explore Saturn's moon Titan, investigating its potential for life and replicating conditions of early Earth.
Overview
- NASA's Dragonfly mission, scheduled for a 2028 launch, will investigate Titan's prebiotic chemistry and potential for life.
- The rotorcraft, costing $3.35 billion, will explore diverse locations on Titan, using a nuclear-powered drone.
- Dragonfly will be NASA's first vehicle to fly for science on another planetary body's moon, arriving in 2034.
- The mission faced delays and budget increases due to COVID-19 and other factors, but is now fully approved.
- Titan's unique conditions, including a dense atmosphere and hydrocarbon lakes, make it a key target for astrobiological studies.