Next moon rover could be a boat—on Titan

Scientists are planning to land a boat on Titan .Scientists proposed this weird idea at the European Planetary Science Congress on Sept. 27 . Titan has thick atmos­phere and a network of seas, lakes and rivers of liquid hydrocarbons . The propulsion system that might be used will be paddle-wheels or screw propulsion .

They’ve landed rovers on Mars. Now, say scientists, it’s time to land a boat on Titan, the hazy largest moon of Saturn.

The concept is being developed as a partnership between SENER and the Center for As­trobiology in Madrid.

The craft would land in the middle of Ligeia Mare—the big­gest known lake, near Titan’s north pole—then head for the coast, taking various measurements along the way.

The mission would last around six months to a year.Titan’s environment is too cold for life as we know it, but its environment , rich in the building blocks of life, is of great interest to astrobiologists

Source : www.world-science.net...