Available Soon

Saturn’s moon Titan is a prime target for exploration due to its dense nitrogen-rich atmosphere and carbon-containing molecules, suggesting possible life. Beyond Cassini/Huygens, exploration has been minimal, but NASA’s Dragonfly mission (2028) will study Titan’s surface. The proposed mission aims to return 30 samples from Selk Crater. Utilizing NASA’s ISRU concept for return propellant, key considerations included trajectory, communication, ADCS, EDL, sample collection, and power.

A planned 2051 launch with gravity assists leads to a 19-year total mission length. On the surface, a quadcopter will collect samples, and an ISRU plant will produce fuel for return. Thermal isolation and liquid oxygen will maintain sample integrity of the samples during the return to Earth.

This paper discusses a conceptual mission to Venus which utilizes the Lofted Environmental and Atmospheric Venus Sensors (LEAVES) to investigate the sulfur cycle and the unknown compound that absorbs near-ultraviolet light in the atmosphere. The mission uses two separate spacecraft coupled at launch, an autonomous bus, Demeter, carrying 144 LEAVES probes and a communications orbiter, Persephone, to relay data from the LEAVES to Earth.

The LEAVES are estimated to be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3, while the spacecraft consists of parts at TRL 9. The unique launch mechanism for the LEAVES is at a TRL of 1-2, and the mission meets the Concept Maturity Level (CML) requirements for a CML 4 classification.