The next flagship mission we have is called Gigantas I. Gigantas is the word Enceladus in Greeks, which means a very bright satellite of Saturn. By sending a space orbiter and a lander to the sixth largest moon of Saturn and the brightest world in the solar system (NASA, 2015), We can easily accomplish this researching mission and bring lots of valuable data back to earth. Enceladus, with approximately 310 miles diameters, is one tenth of the Saturn’s largest moon. (NolaTRedd, 2016) It was first discovered by Frederick William Herschel in 1789. People have few understandings until the two Saturn missions are completed by Voyager I and II. Voyager I discovered Enceladus’s pathway is located in the densest part of Saturn’s E ring and raised
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We are going to design a well-operable mission by carefully thinking about the risks of the mission, working out the problems we may meet and scientifically design the method we are going to use. Although Cassini spacecraft has been traveled to Saturn before, only a little information has been gathered through the fly-by detection. So we are expecting to land on Enceladus and conduct a much more detailed research. For example, it may help us to understand the topography of the moon with a detailed map of geological activity and confirm the solar powered missions are feasible at such distances from the Sun to Saturn. By looking through the map of geological activity, a specific-purpose map to show a planet’s geological features, we can figure out its geologic features and history. Since the distance from the Sun to Enceladus is more than 10 times the distance from the Sun to the Earth, we are not sure if the solar powered missions would still be feasible at such long distance journey. So we will measure how much solar power hits there from the Sun by sending a detector to its surface. Not only this method will help us to know the amount of solar energy there is, it also provide information that is essential to our …show more content…
The first problem we may meet is the extremely low temperatures (200 degrees K) on Enceladus. The smooth surface makes it have the highest reflectivity in the solar system, and its albedo is as high as 138%. The average temperature during nights is much lower than most of other planets, which is only -198 degrees centigrade (75 degrees Kelvin). (Dunbar, 2016) This will be a dangerous problem that may leads to failing. Keeping machines and equipment working and protecting landers will be our primary task. Therefore we will be using an orbiter to detect warmest region first, then sending our lander to this area and using an internal heating mechanism to keep the equipment functioning. Secondly, our lander will be difficult to slow its speed due to the lack of atmosphere. The atmospheric concentration is much lower than it on Earth. (Astrobiology Magazine, 2005) So we decided to use backward propulsion in the form of jets coming out the bottom of the lander, and it will be activated when the lander reaches to a certain distance from the moon’s surface. The third risk is the possible power shortages due to low solar radiation since it is far away from the Sun and part of the radiation is been blocked by Poseidon (another moon of Saturn). (michaeldwall, 2014) As we all know solar energy is one of the most abundant resources used for space travel, and low solar radiation due to blocking by another moon
We are going to design a well-operable mission by carefully thinking about the risks of the mission, working out the problems we may meet and scientifically design the method we are going to use. Although Cassini spacecraft has been traveled to Saturn before, only a little information has been gathered through the fly-by detection. So we are expecting to land on Enceladus and conduct a much more detailed research. For example, it may help us to understand the topography of the moon with a detailed map of geological activity and confirm the solar powered missions are feasible at such distances from the Sun to Saturn. By looking through the map of geological activity, a specific-purpose map to show a planet’s geological features, we can figure out its geologic features and history. Since the distance from the Sun to Enceladus is more than 10 times the distance from the Sun to the Earth, we are not sure if the solar powered missions would still be feasible at such long distance journey. So we will measure how much solar power hits there from the Sun by sending a detector to its surface. Not only this method will help us to know the amount of solar energy there is, it also provide information that is essential to our …show more content…
The first problem we may meet is the extremely low temperatures (200 degrees K) on Enceladus. The smooth surface makes it have the highest reflectivity in the solar system, and its albedo is as high as 138%. The average temperature during nights is much lower than most of other planets, which is only -198 degrees centigrade (75 degrees Kelvin). (Dunbar, 2016) This will be a dangerous problem that may leads to failing. Keeping machines and equipment working and protecting landers will be our primary task. Therefore we will be using an orbiter to detect warmest region first, then sending our lander to this area and using an internal heating mechanism to keep the equipment functioning. Secondly, our lander will be difficult to slow its speed due to the lack of atmosphere. The atmospheric concentration is much lower than it on Earth. (Astrobiology Magazine, 2005) So we decided to use backward propulsion in the form of jets coming out the bottom of the lander, and it will be activated when the lander reaches to a certain distance from the moon’s surface. The third risk is the possible power shortages due to low solar radiation since it is far away from the Sun and part of the radiation is been blocked by Poseidon (another moon of Saturn). (michaeldwall, 2014) As we all know solar energy is one of the most abundant resources used for space travel, and low solar radiation due to blocking by another moon