A return to the orangey world (BBC) (Is a Titan rover in the cards?)

[eppur_se_muova]

A return to the orangey world
By Jonathan Amos
BBC News science reporter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4610792.stm


Unlike the Mars rovers' six-wheel configuration, the Titan concept would use just four large wheels.

"When you get down to the surface, you fold the wheels out, inflate them and you can have a much larger surface coverage," Dr Balint told me. "These wheels are 1.5m in diameter and over a three-year operation you could cover up to 500km."



A balloon can cover far greater distances than a rover and the conditions on the Saturnian moon would be ideal: a dense atmosphere, low gravity and only gentle winds (walking pace) at the surface.

Current designs call for two larger propeller engines to drive the airship forward and two smaller props at the rear to control pitch and yaw.

(For these who can't wait, try reading Steven Baxter's Titan)!

[LeftCoast]

1. Very interesting!

Thanks for posting this!

[phantom power]

2. This would be great.

Recent progress in the DARPA overland challenge has some exciting implications for the capabilities of future mobile surface probes.
http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/

[Odin2005]

3. A Titan rover would be SWEET!

I'd be like a kid in a candy store. :party: