:

New Frontiers mission concept study in situ exploration of 's prebiotic organic chemistry and habitability

E.P. Turtle, J.W. Barnes, M.G. Trainer, R.D. Lorenz, K.E. Hibbard, D.S. Adams, P. Bedini, J.W. Langelaan, K. Zacny, and the Dragonfly Team

OPAG, 22 February 2018 TITANExploring Titan, an EarthlikeEXPLORER Organic-Rich World ...

Titan System Science – The rich interactions at Titan among the surrounding space environment, the atmosphere, the surface, and the interior mirror processes on . Titan is a dynamic world: clouds and rainfall change on hourly time- scales. On ~16-day timescales, tides rise and fall in lakes of liquid hydrocarbons, drive winds in the atmosphere, and raise stresses deep in the interior. Year-to-year, seasonal changes are observed in atmospheric composition, aerosols, tempera- tures, and wind patterns. On geological timescales, atmospheric evolution occurs via escape, photochemical reactions, and cryovolcanism. Many analogs to Earth have been found. Titan’s surface has been eroded by rivers, the precipitation may be torrential enough to cause fl ash fl oods, and the atmosphere exhibits a greenhouse effect and stratospheric anomalies analogous to Earth’s ozone hole. Titan and the Origins of Life – The inventory of complex organic material on Titan is remarkably rich. Synthesis of or- ganics begins in the active ionosphere; it results in the thick haze lower in Titan’s atmosphere, the surface accumulations of organic liquids and particles that form lakes in polar regions, and the vast expanses of near the equator. Further processing by exposure for thousands of years to liquid water at sites of impacts and cryovolcanism should yield building blocks of life, such as and amino acids. Given such timescales and conditions, Titan holds possibilities for fundamentally new organic chemistry that cannot be reproduced in the laboratory on Earth. Synergistic Science – Owing to its unique atmosphere, Titan engages a more extensive range of scientifi c disciplines than other icy satellites. It is an outstandingNext target for step comparative in planetology, seeking both with answers other satellites and to with the terres- trial planets. Titan’s environment also enables uniquely affordable deployment of a wide array of instrumentation at the surface, in the atmosphere, and in orbit. Thus, fundamentalthe powerful complement of scientifiquestions c tools necessary to understand such a complex system can actually be brought to bear. For example, in situ investigations such as seismic sensors and detailed chemical analyses supportWhat and makes inform an orbital a planet survey of this or diverse moon target. Combinationshabitable? of techniques provide more robustWhat constraints chemical on mysteries such processes as Titan’s interior structureled to and the atmospheric development circulation. of life? § Titan is an ideal destination to answer 1,000 Solar UV 0.0 these questions because it has the key Energetic N2 ingredients known to be necessary for life: 500 Diffusion Particles 0.01 4 CH 4 and Dust CH Energy: , photochemistry Particles ar b m

Organic material: Abundant carbon and , k e ,

e 0.03 complex organics 60 Condensate Haze essu r r ltitud P Solvents: Liquid water, as well as A 0.1 C H Ice Ø Potential for organics to interact with liquid water at 40 2 6 CH -N Clouds the surface, e.g., cryovolcanism, impact craters 4 2 0.3 20 Ø Potential for exchange of surface organics with vast Rain Impacts

Ethane-methane CH4 H O/NH Melt 1.0 interior ocean seas/lakes Venting 2 3 Organic Dunes 0 seas/lakes 1.5 NH /H O Cryovolcanism? Ø Earth-like world with an active methane cycle River Channels Organic Sediments 3 2 instead of Earth’s water cycle 07-01121-03 Titan’s atmosphere: 07-01121 • Liquid methane could support development of alternate biological systems Ø Surface pressure = 1.5 bar § Titan is an laboratory to Ø Surface temperature = 94 K investigate primitive chemistry and to Ø Troposphere ~94% N2, ~6% CH4, 0.1% H2 search for Ø Complex photochemistry in upper atmosphere à H & N compounds Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 Next step in seeking answers to fundamental questions What makes a planet or moon habitable? What chemical processes led to the development of life? § Titan is an ideal destination to answer these questions because it has the key ingredients known to be necessary for life: Energy: Sunlight, photochemistry Organic material: Abundant carbon and complex organics Solvents: Liquid water, as well as methane Ø Potential for organics to interact with liquid water at the surface, e.g., cryovolcanism, impact craters Ø Potential for exchange of surface organics with vast interior ocean Ø Earth-like world with an active methane cycle instead of Earth’s water cycle • Liquid methane could support development of alternate biological systems § Titan is an ocean world laboratory to investigate primitive chemistry and to search for biosignatures

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 TITANExploring Titan, an EarthlikeEXPLORER Organic-Rich World ...

Titan System Science – The rich interactions at Titan among the surrounding space environment, the atmosphere, the surface, and the interior mirror processes on Earth. Titan is a dynamic world: clouds and rainfall change on hourly time- scales. On ~16-day timescales, tides rise and fall in lakes of liquid hydrocarbons, drive winds in the atmosphere, and raise stresses deep in the interior. Year-to-year, seasonal changes are observed in atmospheric composition, aerosols, tempera- tures, and wind patterns. On geological timescales, atmospheric evolution occurs via escape, photochemical reactions, and cryovolcanism. Many analogs to Earth have been found. Titan’s surface has been eroded by rivers, the precipitation may be torrential enough to cause fl ash fl oods, and the atmosphere exhibits a greenhouse effect and stratospheric anomalies analogous to Earth’s ozone hole. Titan and the Origins of Life – The inventory of complex organic material on Titan is remarkably rich. Synthesis of or- ganics begins in the active ionosphere; it results in the thick haze lower in Titan’s atmosphere, the surface accumulations of organic liquids and particles that form lakes in polar regions, and the vast expanses of dunes near the equator. Further processing by exposure for thousands of years to liquid water at sites of impacts and cryovolcanism should yield building blocks of life, such as pyrimidines and amino acids. Given such timescales and conditions, Titan holds possibilities for fundamentally new organic chemistry that cannot be reproduced in the laboratory on Earth. Synergistic Science – Owing to its unique atmosphere, Titan engages a more extensive range of scientifi c disciplines than Next step inother seeking icy satellites. It isanswers an outstanding target to for comparative planetology, both with other satellites and with the terres- trial planets. Titan’s environment also enables uniquely affordable deployment of a wide array of instrumentation at the fundamentalsurface, in the atmosphere,questions and in orbit. Thus, the powerful complement of scientifi c tools necessary to understand such a complex system can actually be brought to bear. For example, in situ investigations such as seismic sensors and detailed What makes a planet orchemical moon analyses habitable? support and inform an orbital survey of this diverse target. Combinations of techniques provide more What chemical processes led robustto the constraints development on mysteries such as of Titan’s life? interior structure and atmospheric circulation. § Titan is an ideal destination to answer 1,000 Solar UV 0.0 these questions because it has the key N Energetic ingredients known to be necessary for life: 2 500 Diffusion Particles 0.01 4 CH 4 and Dust CH Energy: Sunlight, photochemistry Particles ar b Organic material: Abundant carbon and m , k e ,

complex organics e 0.03 60 Condensate Haze essu r r Solvents: Liquid water, as well as methane ltitud P A 0.1 C H Ice Ø Potential for organics to interact with liquid water at 40 2 6 the surface, e.g., cryovolcanism, impact craters CH -N Clouds 4 2 0.3 Ø Potential for exchange of surface organics with vast 20 Rain Impacts interior ocean Ethane-methane CH4 H O/NH Melt 1.0 seas/lakes Venting 2 3 Organic Dunes 0 seas/lakes 1.5 Ø Earth-like world with an active methane cycle NH /H O Cryovolcanism? instead of Earth’s water cycle River Channels Organic Sediments 3 2 07-01121-03 • Liquid methane could support development (Lorenz, Waite, Leary, Reh, et al., 2007, Titan 07-01121 of alternate biological systems Explorer Flagship Mission Study Report) § Titan is an ocean world laboratory to investigate primitive chemistry and to search for biosignatures

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 Lunar and XLVIII (2017) 1958.pdf

Thus the Dragonfly mission concept is a quadcop- acterize the habitability of Titan's environment, inves- ter designed to take advantage of Titan's environment tigate how far prebiotic chemistry has progressed, and to be able to sample materials and determine the sur- search for chemical signatures indicative of water- face composition in different geologic settings (Fig. 1). based and/or hydrocarbon-based life. Science Objectives: The compositions of the solid References: [1] Raulin F. et al. (2010) Titan's As- materials on Titan's surface are still essentially un- trobiology, in Titan from Cassini- Brown et known. Measuring the composition of materials in al. Eds. [2] Thompson W. R. and Sagan C. (1992), C. different geologic settings will reveal how far prebiotic Organic chemistry on Titan: Surface interactions , chemistry has progressed in environments that provide Symposium on Titan, ESA SP-338, 167-176. [3] Neish known key ingredients for life. Areas of particular in- C. D. et al. (2010) 10, 337-347. [4] terest are sites such as impact melt sheets [13] and po- https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/research/life- tential cryovolcanic flows where transient liquid water detection/ladder/. [5] Chyba, C. et al. (1999) LPSC 30, may have interacted with the abundant (but - Abstract #1537. [6] Lorenz, R. D. (2000) Journal of poor) photochemical products that litter the surface [2]. the British Interplanetary Society 53, 218-234. [7] Bulk elemental surface composition can be deter- Leary J. et al. (2008) Titan Flagship study mined by a -activated gamma-ray spectrometer https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/downloads/Tit [14] at each site. Surface material can be sampled with an_Explorer_Public_Report_FC_opt.pdf. [8] Stofan E. a drill and ingested using a pneumatic transfer system et al. (2013) Proc. Aerospace Conf. IEEE, DOI: [15] into a mass spectrometer [16] to identify the 10.1109/AERO.2013.6497165. [9] Golombek M. P. et chemical components available and processes at work al. (1997) JGR 102, 3967-3988. [10] Lorenz R. D. to produce biologically relevant compounds. Meteor- (2001) Journal of 38, 208-214. [11] Langelaan ology and remote sensing measurements can character- J. W. et al. (2017) Proc. Aerospace Conf. IEEE. [12] ize Titan's atmosphere and surface – Titan's Earth-like Barnes J. W. et al. (2012) Experimental Astronomy 33, system with a methane cycle instead of water cycle 55-127. [13] Neish C. D. et al. (2017) LPSC 48. [14] provides the opportunity to study familiar processes in Lawrence D. J. et al. (2017) LPSC 48. [15] Zacny K. et a different environment and under different conditions. al. (2017) LPSC 48. [16] Trainer M. G. et al. (2017) Seismic sensing canDiversity probe subsurface structure of surface and LPSC 48 materials. [17] Barnes J. W. et àal. (2007)scientific Icarus 186, activity. 242-258. [18] Soderblom L. A. et al. (2007) Planet. Dragonfly is a truly revolutionarypriority concept toprovi d-sampleSpace Sci. 55diverse, 2025-2036. [19] locations MacKenzie S. M. et al. ing the capability to explore diverse locations to char- (2007) Icarus 243, 191-207. § Compositions of solid materials on Titan's surface still largely unknown

Figure 1. Cassini VIMS map of Titan showing the spectral diversity of the surface, with higher resolution inset § Cassinifrom theVIMS T114 flyby map in November illustrates 2015: red =the 5 µm, spectralgreen = 2 µm, andiversityd blue = 1.3 µ m.of Areas Titan's that appear surface, dark blue higherindicate-resolution higher water-ice inset content comparedfrom T114to the dark flyby organic sands(Nov and bright2015) organic material seen elsewhere [17, 18]. The 5-µm bright unit has characteristics consistent with evaporitic material [19]. Ø Red = 5 μm, green = 2 μm, blue = 1.3 μm Ø Dark blue = higher water-ice content Ø Dark brown = organic sands (Barnes et al. 2007; Soderblom et al. 2007) Ø Orange = 5-μm bright unit with characteristics consistent with evaporitic material (MacKenzie et al. 2014) Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 Diversity of surface materials à scientific priority to sample diverse locations § Challenge is to get a capable instrument suite to high-priority sites Ø Multiple landers are an inefficient strategy, requiring multiple copies of instrumentation and sample acquisition equipment Ø More efficient approach is to convey a single instrument suite to multiple locations è Mobility is key to accessing material in different settings

§ Titan’s atmosphere provides the means to access different geologic terrains 10s to 100s of kilometers apart Ø Heavier-than-air mobility highly efficient at Titan (Lorenz 2000; Langelaan et al. 2017) Ø Titan’s atmosphere 4x denser than Earth’s à reduces wing/rotor area required to generate a given amount of lift à all forms of aviation are easier (lighter- and heavier-than-air) Ø Titan's gravity 1/7th Earth's à reduces the required magnitude of lift à powerful factor in favor of heavier-than-air vehicle Ø Modern control electronics make a multi-rotor vehicle (Langelaan et al. 2017) mechanically simpler than a helicopter, cf. proliferation of terrestrial quadcopter drones; straightforward to test on Earth

è Dragonfly, a with aerial mobility for wide-ranging in situ exploration

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(Leary et al. 2007) adc\Zg eZg^dYh! i]Z bZi]VcZ bjhi XdbZ [gdb I^iVc¼h =jn\Zch¼^chigjbZciVi^dclVhcdiYZh^\cZY[dgYZiV^aZY h^cXZXdhb^XgVn^ciZgVXi^dchl^i]c^igd\Zc^ci]ZadlZg^ciZg^dg! gZaZVhZY eZg]Veh [gdb XaVi]gViZ ^XZ gZhZgkd^gh hjg[VXZbZVhjgZbZcih!nZi^i^hdci]Zhjg[VXZi]Vii]Z Ø Lander + Montgolfière-type balloon i]gdj\] kZcih dg XgndkdaXV" higVidhe]ZgZl^aaegdYjXZVhdc:Vgi]gVY^dXVgWdc#>icdh# >c i]Z jeeZg Vibdhe]ZgZ! bVni]ZgZ[dgZWZedhh^WaZidYZiZgb^cZ]dl¹[gZh]ºi]Zi]Z bZi]VcZ VcY c^igd\Zc VgZ Ø Two landers ]VoZbViZg^Va^h# YZhigdnZY VcY XdckZgiZY ^cid ]ZVk^Zg dg\Vc^X bdaZXjaZh 6 h^beaZ hZ^hbdbZiZg XdjaY egdWZl]^X]jai^bViZanVgZYZedh^iZY I^iVc¼h ^ciZgcVa § NASA-ESA Titan SystemhigjXijgZVcYldjaYegdWVWanÄcYVhjWhiVci^VaZmX^iV Mission (TSSM; Luninedci]Zhjg[VXZ#>YZci^[n^c\i]Z, " hdjgXZh!h^c`h!VcYeVi]lVnh^c Lebreton et al. 2008): i^dc d[ XgjhiVa ÅZm^c\ Wn i]Z X]Vc\^c\i]^h XdbeaZm i^YVa hnhiZb ediZci^Va gZfj^gZh dkZg V &+"YVn dgW^i d[ I^iVc VgdjcYI^iVcidWZhijY^ZYViVgVc\Zd[ HVijgc# 6 hbVaa hXVaZh[gdbideidWdiidb![gdb Exp Astron (2012) 33:55–127 61 Ø Montgolfière + lander bZiZdgdad\^XVaeVX`V\ZXdjaYVahdbdc^idgX]Vc\Zh^c^ih^dcdhe]ZgZid^ih^ciZg^dg# i]Z l^cYh! l]^X] a^`Zan Vahd ]VkZ VDgW^i^c\I^iVc!gVi]Zgi]Vc hjWhiVci^Va i^YVa XdbedcZci# Ån^c\eVhi!ldjaYVaadlV[jijgZ Dragonfly addresses the challenge of Titan’sb^hh^dcid\ZibdgZi]VcÅZZi diverse " I^iVc¼h hjg[VXZ ^h Y^kZghZ! VcY cd^c\\aVcXZhVii]ZWdYn#>cYZZY! egVXi^XVa cjbWZg d[aVcYZghXVcXViVad\Vaad[^ihY^[[ZgZcihjg[VXZineZh#l^i]^c i]Z Äghi ( YVnh d[ V landscape with a lander with aerial mobilityYZY^XViZY[daadl"dcb^hh^dcid Figure 10. (Top) Artist’s impression of a hot-air balloon at Titan. AVg\Z"hXVaZbdW^a^in^hi]ZdWk^djhhdaji^dc!VcYVhZmeZI^iVc!i]Zb^hh^dcldjaYheZcY" (Bottom) A simulation of the trajectory of a balloon foating at a à a relocatableg^ZcXZl^i]BVghgdkZgh]Vhh]dlc!Zc\V\Zhi]ZejWa^X^c lander adc\Zg Vi I^iVc i]Vc 8Vhh^c^# Figure 9. Artist’s impression of a lander sitting amid Titan’s felds. The sampling arm 6cdgW^iZgl^i]bdYZhiXVeVW^a" fisxed equipped 8-km with altitude a UV lamp simulated to excite f uorescenceusing a general in specifc circulation organic compounds. model A seis of- lVnhi]VigZbdiZhZch^c\YdZhcdi#I^iVc¼hZck^gdcbZci ^i^ZhXdjaY!dkZgdcanVXdjeaZd[ Titan’smometer/magnetometer winds. The plotpackage shows lies in the the foreground, trajectory connected over to severalthe lander bymonths a tether, Ø Enables sampling at multipleVaadlh dcZtargeted id Xdch^YZg locations bVcn edhh^WaZnZVgh!XdcYjXigVYVgVcYcZVg" kZ]^XaZ ineZh!&' and a mast is at left. (Artwork by James Garry [www.fastlight.co.uk]; used with >G bVee^c\ l^i] (·&% i^bZh overlaidpermission.) on a low-resolution map of Titan. bdhi cdiVWan VZg^Va eaVi[dgbh! i]Vi eZgb^i bdW^a^in Ø Acquires context for samplesdkZg adc\ & Y^hiVcXZh#in situ Hj\\Zhi^dch measurements d[ WVaaddch Vi I^iVc YViZWVX`id&.,-!VcYhZg^djhhijY^Zh]VkZWZZcbVYZ142  JOHNS HOPKINS APL TECHNICAL DIGEST, VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2 (2006) Ø Ability & adaptability to findh^cXZ&.-(# & access interesting material ldjaY\^kZV]^\]"gZhdaji^dchiZgZdk^Zld[]jcYgZYhdg 6 aZVY^c\ ^YZV id iVX`aZ i]^h Y^kZghZ hjg[VXZ ^h V i]djhVcYhd[adXVi^dch#=^\]gZhdaji^dc^hcdiVhZVhnid Ø Explore an alien environmentbdci\daăgZV]diV^gWVaaddc#7jdnVcXnk^VlVgbi] on human scale VX]^ZkZ[gdbVcdgW^iZg]^\]VWdkZI^iVc¼h]VonVibd" ^hVeVgi^XjaVganZ[ÄX^ZcihigViZ\ndcI^iVcl^i]^ihXdaY! he]ZgZ!Vh]VhWZZcYdcZViBVgh!VcY^bV\^c\[gdbVSpace Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 YZchZVibdhe]ZgZ!VcY^hZVh^anVX]^ZkZY#6gVY^d^hdideZ WVaaddcÄaahVc^bedgiVcihXVaZ\VeWZilZZcdgW^iZgVcY edlZghdjgXZ!l]^X]^h^cVcnXVhZcZXZhhVgn[dgVadc\" aVcYZgdWhZgkVi^dch#6hjWhjg[VXZgVYVghdjcYZgXdjaY YjgVi^dcb^hh^dchd[Vg[gdbi]ZHjc!iZcYhid]VkZV bZVhjgZided\gVe]nVcYYZiZXihjWhjg[VXZaVnZgh!hjX] bdYZhiXdckZgh^dcZ[ÄX^ZcXnd[*dghd#I]jhidegd" Vhi]ZYZei]d[i]ZhVcY^ci]ZhVcYhZVhdgi]ZYZei] YjXZ&%%Ld[ZaZXig^X^in!VgdjcY'`Ld[]ZVibjhiWZ d[aV`Zh!VcYeZg]VehYZiZXiVcnhjWhjg[VXZa^fj^YlViZg gZ_ZXiZY[gdbi]ZhdjgXZ!Wjii]^h]ZViXVcWZZmead^iZYFig. 1 AndXZVc#>ildjaY![jgi]ZgbdgZ!WZVigZbZcYdjhanZmX^i^c\ artist’s rendering of the AVIATR airplane flying over the surface of Titan idlVgbi]ZWVaaddc\Vh#7nbdYjaVi^c\i]Z]ZViÅdl! eaVi[dgb[dgZYjXVi^dcVcYdjigZVX]#Eadii^c\jeYViZhdc i]Z Vai^ijYZ d[ i]Z WVaaddc XdjaY WZ XdcigdaaZY! bjX] ^ihadXVi^dcdcVlVaa"X]VgibVed[I^iVcXdjaYWZXdbZ Vh^hYdcZl^i]WVaaVhiVcYegdeVcZWjgcZghdciZggZh"of HiRISEV YV^an at VXi^k^in (25 cm/pixel), ^c hX]ddah! and id\Zi]Zg this data will l^i] be aVjcX]^c\ able to constrain ig^Va]diV^gWVaaddch#6cYVh`cdlaZY\Zd[I^iVc¼hl^cYthe engineeringWVaaddch# safety of surface environments for landers. Such landing- ^begdkZh!^ibVnWZedhh^WaZVhdc:Vgi]idZmead^iY^["site candidate>c[VXi!V;aV\h]^e"XaVhhb^hh^dcb^\]i^cXajYZVaad[ analysis may include characterization of rock hazards, slope [ZgZcil^cYheZZYhVcYY^gZXi^dchViY^[[ZgZciVai^ijYZhdeterminations,i]ZhZZaZbZcih#I]ZgZVgZh^\c^ÄXVciiZX]c^XVaVYkVc the persistence of liquid, and rover trafficability. Our" global idYZkZadehdbZXdcigdadkZgl]ZgZi]ZWVaaddcYg^[ihwind fieldiV\ZhidhjX]VXdbW^cVi^dc/VaVcYZgVXi^c\VhVÄmZY measurements can reduce the size of the landing ellipse for those future missions as they descend through the atmosphere to their destinations. ;^\#&%# It ised^ci of interest XVc to egdk^YZnote that airplanes Vc ^bedgiVci (and balloons) cVk^\Vi^dcVa were advocated gZ[Zg at" Mars DkZgVa^`Zana^[Zi^bZd[VnZVgÅdVi^c\ViVcVai^ijYZto attainZcXZ!VcYVcdgW^iZgXVcYgVbVi^XVaan^begdkZi]ZYViV similar high-resolution imaging goals, bridging the scale gap between d[V[Zl`^adbZiZgh!i]ZWVaaddcldjaYX^gXjbcVk^\ViZimagingkdajbZgZijgcZY[gdbVWVaaddcVcY$dgaVcYZgWnVXi^c\ from fixed or roving landers, and orbiters. However, the large imaging I^iVcilddgbdgZi^bZh#@ZnhX^ZcXZdcVWVaaddcldjaYinstrumentVhVgZaVn#I]ZhX^Zci^ÄXhncZg\^ZhVgZcdaZhh^bedgiVci0 HiRISE on the low-orbiting ( 300 km) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter now achieves 0.25 m image sampling∼ [93, 94], eroding the case for WZ ^bV\^c\ d[ i]Z hjg[VXZ VcY adlZg Vibdhe]ZgZ# I]Zsuch aerial[dgZmVbeaZ!i]ZYg^[i^c\d[i]ZWVaaddcVcYi]ZX]Vc\ platforms for imaging. The equivalent orbital imaging capability" ¹V^geaVcZl^cYdlºeZgheZXi^kZV[[dgYZYWni]ZWVaaddcis impossible^c\ l^cYh for Titan, Vi V since ÄmZY the aVcYZg atmosphere adXVi^dc is both egdk^YZ physically edlZg[ja and optically thick, forcing orbiters to altitudes higher than 1,000 km, so a near-surface (aerial) vehicle is necessary to achieve a high enough resolution to characterize the landscape. Although balloons can achieve large-scale mobility, the wind JOHNS HOPKINS APL TECHNICAL DIGEST, VOLUME 27, NUMBER 2 (2006) field limits the range of locations that can be visited by143 a single vehicle. Airships are efficient at very low speeds, but at speeds much larger than Dual-quadcopter rotorcraft lander

§ Most of time spent on ground making measurements, flight used to explore different sites and provide context measurements of the surroundings § In situ operations strategies similar to Mars rovers Ø Flexible conops with more relaxed pace with 16-day Titan-sols Ø Science activities on ground and some measurements in flight Ø Aerial scouting to identify sites of interest § Flight uses battery power, recharged by an MMRTG between flights and science activities § Direct-to-Earth communication

Science payload: DraMS (GSFC): Mass spectrometer DraGNS (APL & GSFC): Gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer DraGMet (APL): Meteorology, seismic, and other geophysical sensors DragonCam (MSSS): Camera suite

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 Science Objectives

§ Analyze chemical components and processes at work that produce biologically relevant compounds § Measure atmospheric conditions, identify methane reservoirs, and determine transport rates § Constrain processes that mix organics with past surface liquid water reservoirs or subsurface ocean § Search for chemical evidence of water-based or hydrocarbon-based life

Science payload: DraMS (GSFC): Mass spectrometer DraGNS (APL & GSFC): Gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer DraGMet (APL): Meteorology, seismic, and other geophysical sensors DragonCam (MSSS): Camera suite

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 Science measurements

§ On surface: Ø DraMS: Sample material and perform detailed analyses of chemical components and progression of organic synthesis Heritage from SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars), which has pyrolysis and gas chromatographic analysis capabilities Ø DraGNS: Measure bulk elemental surface composition, allowing rapid classification of surface material and detection of minor inorganic elements Chemical reconnaissance informs sampling and detailed chemical analysis to be performed Ø DraGMet: Monitor atmosphere (pressure, temperature, wind, humidity) Surface conditions (thermal properties, dielectric constant) Seismic monitoring to detect subsurface activity Diurnal and spatial variations Ø DragonCam: Characterize geologic features Provide context for samples § In flight: Ø Atmospheric profiles; diurnal, spatial variations Ø Aerial imagery for surface geology, context, and scouting future landing sites

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 4-6 LANDER SCIENCE DEFINITION TEAM REPORT

Some of the molecules synthesized by life – for example, some alkaloids, steroids, and pigments – are, given the current state of knowledge, uniquely biogenic. Such compounds contain a complexity of structure and/or diversityEUROPA of chemicalLANDER SCIENCE motifs DEFINITION that would TEAM REPORT be highly 4-13 improbable to achieve outside of a biological system, with evidence of biogenicity therefore lying in a single compound rather than in patterns of relative abundance among compounds. The simple presence of such molecules, if demonstrablyflight, are capableendogenous, of addressing would the provide MS requirements strong within the molecular analysis measure- evidence for life; therefore, they represent attractivement objective. Various targets MS systems (Summons may also et offer al., design flexibility to enable additional, en- 2008). hanced science, such as direct analysis of neutral or ion composition of the near-surface atmosphere/, or spatially resolved sample analysis using focused laser Importantly, a search for diagnostically biogenicor other beammolecules ionization. need not exclusively target the complex “biomarker” molecules known from life on Earth; indeed, it is questionable Investigation 1A2: Determine the types, relative abundances, and enantiomeric whether those same molecules, which represent highlyratios specific of any and amino evolved acids in features the sampled of our material. , could be expected to emerge from a separate origin of life. Rather, the preferred approach is to assess molecular complexityHow in moreSome generalfar compounds has terms employed (e.g., chemistry Li andin Earth’s Eastgate, biochemistry 2015;progressed – for example, sugars in and most amino Böttcher, 2016), in order to encompass compoundsacids –that are chiral.are not Chiral found compounds in biochemistry can exist inon either of two configurations (enantiomers) Earth, but whose features mayenvironments nonetheless indicatethat uniquelyrepresent providing biologicalnon-superimposable character. mirrorkey images ingredients of one another (Figure for 4.1.6). life?In the case of amino acids, known abiotic mechanisms of synthesis generate nearly equal amounts of the For example, Cronin (2016) has developedtwo an possible approach enantiomers to calculate (D and complexity L). In meteorites, based the D and L forms are generally also pre- § Assess conditions necessary forsent habitabilityin approximately equivalent amounts, although excesses of the L enantiomer ranging on the number of unique synthetic pathways represented in the structural fragments or com- § Identify astrobiological buildingfrom blocks 1–15% haveand been processes observed among that the -methyl series (Pizzarello, 2006) and ponents of an overall molecular structure. When defined in this fashion, complexity is an in- take those building blocks towardup to 21%life for the non-proteinogenic amino acid isovaline (Elsila et al., 2016). In an analysis trinsic property of the molecule and its calculationof the Tagish does notLake requireMeteorite, external unusually calibration. large L- Moreover,§ Multiple because techniques the complexity and metric approaches is basedenantiomeric on the toidentification excessesperform ranging of a unique broad from fragments 43–45%-based and substructures,search for the chemical algorithmic signatures, determinationwere ofminimizing complexity reported for in glutamic assumptionsknown acid structures in which andhas the an 13C-content confirmed its meteoritic origin analyticaladdressing counterpart –different based on successive rungs onmolecular the life fragmentation-detection with ladder mass spectral at anal- ysis – that does not require the structure of the parent(Glavin molecule et al., 2012). to be uniquely identified. The different locations and past environmental conditions clear advantage in such an approach is that it is fully “agnostic”In contrast, with biological respect materials to the on specifics Earth https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/research/lifeare composed-detection/ladder almost exclusively of /the L-enan- tiomer (D/L ~0.02; Aubrey, 2008) and recent work suggests that such homochirality is re- quired for the proper folding and function of in biochemistry across the three do- mains of life on Earth. For this reason, it is sug- gested that a large enantiomeric excess (ee) in multiple different amino acid types would constitute strong evidence for biology (Halpern, 1969; Kvenvolden, 1973; Bada et al., 1996; Bada and McDonald, 1996).

Bacteria however, also incorporate non- proteinogenic D-amino acids (aspartic acid, as- paragine, glutamic acid, glutamine, serine, and al- anine) as components of bacterial such as peptidoglycan, polypeptide, teichoic (Hand et al., 2017, Europa Lander SDT Report) Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018

SCIENCE OF THE EUROPA LANDER MISSION – 4 | | 4 – SCIENCE OF THE EUROPA LANDER MISSION Mission timeline

§ Launch in 2025 § Titan arrival in 2034 Ø landing in equatorial interdunes Ø ~100-m-high, several-km spacing Ø well characterized by Cassini Ø similar latitude and time of year as descent of Huygens probe § Over 2 years of exploration, covering variety of terrain over 10s – 100s of km Dragonfy: A Rotorcraft Lander Concept for Scientifc Exploration at Titan

Cruise at 500 m above takeoff Long-range tery is large enough to cap-

500 visual reconnaissance ture the full MMRTG output) excess energy is available. Other nighttime scientific 300 activities include seismological Energy-optimal climb Landing at Survey prospective at 20º pre-surveyed site future landing site and meteorological monitoring Altitude (m) 100 C and local (e.g., microscopic) Representative dune topography imaging using LED illumina- A Vertical takeoff B to 50 m Regional Cassini SAR topo data tors as flown on and –100 0 5 10 15 20 Curiosity (e.g., Ref. 38). These Distance (km) illuminators would permit better color discrimination of Figure 6. ”Leapfrog” reconnaissance and survey strategy enables potential landing sites to Titan surface materials (since be fully validated with sensor data and ground analysis before being committed to. Distance the daytime illumination, fil- shown is example only—actual performance may be much better. tered by the thick atmospheric haze, is predominantly of red Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 In this way, the mission need not commit to landing light) and could use UV illumination to help iden- sites that have not first been assessed to be safe. This tify surface organic material via fluorescence,39 which conservative approach, while taking longer to achieve is common in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons a given multi-hop traverse range, enables the contem- expected in the dune sands. plation of much rougher terrains that may be associated If a site proves to be of interest, the vehicle (better with more appealing scientific targets (e.g., cryovolcanic thought of as a relocatable lander than an aircraft) can features or impact melt sheets where liquid water may remain at a given location for as long as desired, per- have interacted with organics on Titan). haps performing more extensive imaging studies with At each new landing site, the HGA is unstowed and its panoramic cameras or sampling at different depths. downlink begins. Priority data might include flight per- It could also “shuffle” distances of a few meters to repo- formance information and aerial imaging of the land- sition the skids/drills or to obtain a different camera ing site to confirm its exact location in maps made view. Observing the methane humidity over one or from prior reconnaissance. A quick-look site assessment more Titan diurnal periods would inform the extent to would use thermal measurements on the landing skids to which methane moisture is exchanged with the surface estimate the surface texture (e.g., solid versus granular, (an analysis analogous to that performed by Curiosity damp versus dry); dielectric constant obtained by mea- for water vapor on Mars40). Note that although Drag- suring the mutual impedance between electrodes on the onfly lacks a robotic arm, it can nonetheless manip- skids would similarly constrain the physical character of ulate surface materials to understand their physical the surface material. These measurements would take character. One example is that the seismometer can only seconds to minutes. Over a period of a few hours, the neutron- 100 activated gamma-ray spectrometer Flight of ~1 h (with communications Battery before and after) uses signifcant recharged would determine the bulk ele- battery energy for next mental composition of the land- 80 Tsol ing site, allowing identification Occasional Downlink Periodic among a number of basic expected 60 nighttime science science science surface types (e.g., organic dune data activities and activity sand, solid water ice, and frozen downlinks -hydrate). 40 Armed with this information, and with imaging to characterize 20 the geological setting, the science team on the ground might elect Titan daytime—Earth and Sun Titan nighttime (~192 h) 0 visible (~192 h) to acquire a surface sample with red) (deg., blue); Earth elevation Battery charge (%, 0 5 10 15 one or the other drills and ana- Day lyze it with the mass spectrometer. Drilling and sample analysis are Figure 7. Energy management and communication concept of operations. MMRTG contin- relatively energy-intensive tasks, uously recharges the battery, but downlink and especially flight demand significant energy. which might be deferred into the Activities can be paced to match MMRTG in situ capability while maintaining healthy mar- Titan night when (unless the bat- gins on the battery state of charge.

Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, PRE-PUBLICATION DRAFT (2017), www.jhuapl.edu/techdigest 9 A Tsol (16 Earth days) in the life of Dragonfly § Downlink of data and uplink of direction from science team § Weather measurements as part of pre-flight checklist § Flight profile and landing-site assessment: Ø Take off from site A, survey landing zone B (e.g., imaging, for terrain roughness), return to site A, downlink data for science-team analysis and selection of landing site B Ø Take off from A, survey landing zone C, land at site B § Downlink of flight data and aerial images of the landing site § Thermal and electrical measurements using DraGMet landing-skid sensors estimate physical character of surface material § DraGNS measurement of bulk composition discriminates among basic surface types (e.g., organic dune sand, solid H2O ice, frozen NH3-hydrate) § DragonCam imaging of surroundings; DraGMet atmospheric monitoring § Sampling and DraMS analysis § Downlink of data and uplink of direction from science team

§ Overnight recharge of battery by MMRTG Dragonfy: A Rotorcraft Lander Concept for Scientifc Exploration at Titan

§ Sampling & DraMS analysis (if deferred to night Cruise at 500 m above takeoff Long-range tery is large enough to cap-

when excess energy is available) 500 visual reconnaissance ture the full MMRTG output) excess energy is available. § DraGMet seismic and meteorological monitoring Other nighttime scientific 300 activities include seismological § DragonCam imaging using LED illuminators Energy-optimal climb Landing at Survey prospective at 20º pre-surveyed site future landing site and meteorological monitoring Altitude (m) (cf. Phoenix and Curiosity) for better color 100 C and local (e.g., microscopic) discrimination of Titan surface materials; UV to Representative dune topography imaging using LED illumina- A Vertical takeoff B to 50 m Regional Cassini SAR topo data tors as flown on Phoenix and identify organic material via fluorescence (e.g., –100 Curiosity (e.g., Ref. 38). These 0 5 10 Space Exploration15 20 dune sand polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) Distance (km) illuminators would permit better color discrimination of Figure 6. ”Leapfrog” reconnaissance and survey strategy enables potential landing sites to Titan surface materials (since be fully validated with sensor data and ground analysis before being committed to. Distance the daytime illumination, fil- shown is example only—actual performance may be much better. tered by the thick atmospheric haze, is predominantly of red In this way, the mission need not commit to landing light) and could use UV illumination to help iden- sites that have not first been assessed to be safe. This tify surface organic material via fluorescence,39 which conservative approach, while taking longer to achieve is common in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons a given multi-hop traverse range, enables the contem- expected in the dune sands. plation of much rougher terrains that may be associated If a site proves to be of interest, the vehicle (better with more appealing scientific targets (e.g., cryovolcanic thought of as a relocatable lander than an aircraft) can features or impact melt sheets where liquid water may remain at a given location for as long as desired, per- have interacted with organics on Titan). haps performing more extensive imaging studies with At each new landing site, the HGA is unstowed and its panoramic cameras or sampling at different depths. downlink begins. Priority data might include flight per- It could also “shuffle” distances of a few meters to repo- formance information and aerial imaging of the land- sition the skids/drills or to obtain a different camera ing site to confirm its exact location in maps made view. Observing the methane humidity over one or from prior reconnaissance. A quick-look site assessment more Titan diurnal periods would inform the extent to would use thermal measurements on the landing skids to which methane moisture is exchanged with the surface estimate the surface texture (e.g., solid versus granular, (an analysis analogous to that performed by Curiosity damp versus dry); dielectric constant obtained by mea- for water vapor on Mars40). Note that although Drag- suring the mutual impedance between electrodes on the onfly lacks a robotic arm, it can nonetheless manip- skids would similarly constrain the physical character of ulate surface materials to understand their physical the surface material. These measurements would take character. One example is that the seismometer can only seconds to minutes. Over a period of a few hours, the neutron- 100 activated gamma-ray spectrometer Flight of ~1 h (with communications Battery before and after) uses signifcant recharged would determine the bulk ele- battery energy for next mental composition of the land- 80 Tsol ing site, allowing identification Occasional Downlink Periodic among a number of basic expected 60 nighttime science science science surface types (e.g., organic dune data activities and activity sand, solid water ice, and frozen downlinks ammonia-hydrate). 40 Armed with this information, and with imaging to characterize 20 the geological setting, the science team on the ground might elect Titan daytime—Earth and Sun Titan nighttime (~192 h) 0 visible (~192 h) to acquire a surface sample with red) (deg., blue); Earth elevation Battery charge (%, 0 5 10 15 one or the other drills and ana- Day lyze it with the mass spectrometer. Drilling and sample analysis are Figure 7. Energy management and communication concept of operations. MMRTG contin- relatively energy-intensive tasks, uously recharges the battery, but downlink and especially flight demand significant energy. which might be deferred into the Activities can be paced to match MMRTG in situ capability while maintaining healthy mar- Titan night when (unless the bat- gins on the battery state of charge.

Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, PRE-PUBLICATION DRAFT (2017), www.jhuapl.edu/techdigest 9 The Dragonfly team reflects broad science and technical expertise

§ Broad scientific and technical expertise and flight experience GSFC Ames – both spaceflight and atmospheric flight LaRC Ø Spacecraft development, flight hardware, instrumentation, JPL measurement techniques Ø Building on autonomous rotorcraft flight development Ø In situ operations – landed experience on Titan and Mars Ø Titan environment – surface and atmosphere Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence § Mentoring early career scientists and engineers § NASA Participating Scientist Program Science Team Zibi Turtle, APL, PI Erich Karkoschka, U Ariz. , BYU , GSFC, DPI David Lawrence, APL Scot Rafkin, SwRI Jason Barnes, U Idaho, DPI Alice Le Gall, LATMOS Mike Ravine, MSSS , APL, PS Juan Lora, UCLA Jason Soderblom, MIT Will Brinckerhoff, GSFC Shannon MacKenzie, APL Angela Stickle, APL Morgan Cable, JPL Chris McKay, NASA Ames Ellen Stofan, APL Caroline Freissinet, LATMOS Catherine Neish, PSI/UWO Tetsuya Tokano, Univ. Köln Kevin Hand, JPL Claire Newman, Aeolis Colin Wilson, Oxford Alex Hayes, Cornell Mark Panning, JPL Aileen Yingst, PSI Sarah Hörst, JHU Ann Parsons, GSFC Jeff Johnson, APL Patrick Peplowski, APL Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 A rotorcraft lander for in situ investigation of Titan's prebiotic chemistry and habitability New Frontiers mission concept study to perform in situ exploration and discovery on an ocean world to determine how far chemistry has progressed in environments providing key ingredients for life Aerial mobility provides access to Titan's diverse materials at a wide range of geologic settings 10s to 100s of kilometers apart in over 2 years of exploration

• Rich, multidisciplinary science at each landing site, with dozens of potential sites • Mission duration is not heavily constrained – MMRTG output degrades slowly and there are no major consumables

Space Exploration OPAG Meeting, Hampton, VA, 22 February 2018 GSFC Ames LaRC Vertical Lift Research JPL Center of Excellence