Dragonfly: NASA gives the green light to the mission that would reach the moon Titan

The NASA has confirmed the Dragonfly mission to the moon Titan, authorizing work to continue on the final design and manufacturing of the spacecraft, which is expected to launch in July 2028.

It is a revolutionary car-sized nuclear-powered drone that plans to fly over and land in the organic-rich sands of Saturn’s large moon.

Dragonfly, NASA’s only mission to the surface of another ocean world, is designed to investigate the complex chemistry that is the precursor to life. The vehicle, to be built and operated by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), will be equipped with cameras, sensors and samplers to examine areas of Titan known to contain organic materials that may have been previously mixed with liquid water. now frozen on the frozen surface.

“Dragonfly is such a bold effort, like nothing that has been done before,” APL’s Elizabeth “Zibi” Turtle, Dragonfly’s principal investigator, said in a statement. “I am inspired by the way our team has repeatedly overcome challenges by working together and thinking innovatively. “We have shown that we are ready for the next steps on the path to Titan and we will continue to move forward with the same curiosity and creativity that has brought Dragonfly to this point.”

The Dragonfly team has made significant technical advances, including: a progression of testing Dragonfly’s guidance, navigation and control systems over California deserts that resemble the dunes of Titan; multiple flight system tests in NASA Langley Research Center’s unique wind tunnels; and run a full-scale instrumented lander model using atmospheric pressure and temperature simulations in APL’s new Titan Chamber.