SpaceX and NASA are preparing to launch an ambitious mission on Saturn Titan's satellite, which will be an important step in finding life outside the Earth. The mission, which was called Dragonfly , will take place in 2028 with the help of a heavy Falcon Heavy missile, developed by SpaceX.
Dragonfly is scheduled for the period from July 5 to July 25, 2028 and will be made from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA signed a $ 256.6 million contract with SpaceX, which covers the cost of launch and related costs. The total cost of the mission is estimated at $ 3.35 billion.
The main purpose of the mission is to study the conditions on the titanium, the largest satellite of Saturn, to find signs of life or conditions that may be suitable for its existence. Dragonfly will control a nuclear rotary engine that will allow it to move between different Titan areas - from icy plains to sand dunes. It will collect scientific data on the chemical composition of the atmosphere and the surface of the titanium, analyzing areas with the probable presence of carbon materials and liquid water, which can be key for life.
The mission will also focus on the study of prebiotic chemical compounds - building blocks for life. Dragonfly will analyze different Titan regions to find traces of the past or even modern life on Saturn's satellite.
Titan's trip will take about six years, as the distance to the satellite is more than 1.2 billion kilometers. Upon arrival, the device will spend at least two years, collecting data that will be transferred to the ground. This will significantly expand our understanding of life potential outside our planet.
The Dragonfly mission is one of the most ambitious NASA projects that promises to open new horizons in space research. It will not only be an important step in the study of titanium, but also leads the search for life to a new level, exploring other planetary bodies, where the conditions may be similar to those that allow life on Earth.
