The Advanced Concepts Initiative Program (Naica) of the Nasa has introduced a new sample return system to the land which leverages resources at destination as a propellant for return.
Applied to the specific scenario of the Saturn’s moon Titan, This proposal uses in situ volatile propellants available on its surface. The idea is to provide a system of returning to Earth the samples that the mission obtains Dragonfly, A flying artifact that is expected to be sent in 2027 to reach Titan in 2036 with the goal of exploring Titan.
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This approach to Titan is very different from all conventional concepts of in situ resource use, and will achieve a return of great scientific value to planetary science, astrobiology, and the understanding of the origin of life, which is an order of magnitude more difficult than other sample return missions, it explains in a statement Steven Oleson, of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, To argue this mission approach.
In general, missions to distant celestial objects need to carry enough propellant for the return trip (which means much extra mass and higher costs) or have a nuclear battery that can provide power for several years.
As can be seen in the illustration, the new approach would consist of a landing module and an ascent vehicle. Once they landed on Titan’s surface, they could help the Dragonfly mission receive samples collected by the quadcopter.
Using on-site collected resources, the landing module could provide liquid methane and liquid oxygen fuel (created from local ice) for the lift vehicle. This vehicle would then be loaded with samples collected by Dragonfly and then taken back to Earth.
By not transporting its own propellant, the sample return element of the mission would have a smaller total mass and therefore its launch would cost less.