AAS 97-615
OPTIONS FOR A TITAN ORBITER AND MULTI-PROBE MISSION
P.A. Penzo - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Abstract
Titan, in addition to Europa, is presumed to hold clues of prebiotic life, and perhaps life itself. This paper suggests that a follow-on mission to Cassini be direct entry of probes and landers at Titan. This avoids the high energy cost of orbiting Saturn or Titan. Ballistic and solar electric options are presented for fast transfers to Saturn. Because Titan is light, and distant from Saturn, entry velocities are low, and Titan's thick atmosphere provides easy entry. The paper will conclude with an example mission, taken from launch to specified Titan landing sites. A short discussion of aerobraking the probe carrier into a Titan orbit will also be given.