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| Image: NASA |
SpaceX to Launch NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Explore Titan, Saturn's Largest Moon
SpaceX will use its Falcon Heavy rocket to launch NASA's Dragonfly mission around July 2028, with a launch cost of $256.6 million. This mission, part of NASA's New Frontiers Program and valued at $3.35 billion, aims to study the unique environment of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
Dragonfly, a helicopter lander, will travel to Titan over six years, expected to arrive in 2034. It will explore Titan's methane seas, icy surfaces, and organic-rich dunes, conducting prebiotic chemical studies and searching for signs of life.
The mission follows the success of the Cassini-Huygens mission, expanding research on Titan's methane cycle and the interaction between water and carbon-based materials. Dragonfly will utilize advanced automated systems, inspired by the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, to overcome challenges posed by weak sunlight and harsh conditions on Titan.
The project is managed by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory with support from global experts. NASA hopes Dragonfly will bring groundbreaking insights into the potential for life-supporting conditions on other celestial bodies in the Solar System.
