NASA Wants to Drop a Submarine in Titan's Ocean to Find Life

[Solarion]

NASA is working on sending a submarine into the depths of the Kraken Mare — the largest ocean on Saturn’s moon Titan.

There are really two big reasons why we want to go to Titan. Number one: “to determine if hydrocarbon-based life is possible on Titan,” said Jason Hartwig, a NASA cryogenics engineer, in a presentation at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium in Raleigh on Wednesday.

Number two: as the only moon in our solar system with clouds and an atmosphere, Titan is very similar to Earth — apart from the extreme cold and oceans of liquid methane. But hidden in the methane sea may be clues to how life evolved and potentially some weird extraterrestrial microbes.

Hartwig’s proposed submarine would carry instruments to measure the chemical composition of the ocean, the currents and tides, and the structure of the ocean floor. The mast at the top allows the sub to communicate with Earth when it surfaces, and since it won’t be able to communicate when underwater, its search for life is planned to be fully autonomous, probably with tech similar to what the Mars 2020 rover is carrying.

Full Article

 

[LazyLion]

How much is a ticket?

 

[Agent_Smith]

How much is a ticket?

You want to be one of several seamen?

 

[Solarion]

I think that would be a one way trip Gary.

Also liquid methane ocean. I'm no expert but surfing it that might be rough going.

[video=youtube;PazA3oWJlmY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PazA3oWJlmY[/video]

 

[xrapidx]

I really hope they find some sort of live before my time is up

 

[Arthur]

How much is a ticket?

$2b-3b, I'd guess.

 

[LazyLion]

Would be one helluva trip!

 

[Cius]

Have you watched Europa

 

[animal531]

Have you watched Europa

Also that. I'd think going to Europa would be a better bet.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

You want to be one of several seamen?

Fits Titan nice ....