NASA plans Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to explore Saturn moon Titan

NASA Science announced that the uncrewed Dragonfly rotorcraft will fly to multiple locations on Saturn’s moon Titan. The mission aims to investigate the habitability of the organic-rich moon. [1]

According to NASA Science, Dragonfly is the first airborne science mission planned for another world using a rotorcraft that moves between distinct landing sites. The principal investigator for the project is a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. [1]

NASA Science reported that the rotorcraft will fly for miles across Titan over a planned three point three year mission. It will stop to investigate several geologically interesting areas, including sand dunes and the Selk Crater. [1]

The aircraft is expected to make one flight every one to two Titan days, according to NASA Science. A single day on Titan, known as a Tsol, lasts about 16 Earth days. [1]