Optimisation of a Hydrodynamic SPH-FEM Model for a Bioinspired Aerial-aquatic Spacecraft on Titan [IMA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2106.09411


Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, supports a dense atmosphere, numerous bodies of liquid on its surface, and as a richly organic world is a primary focus for understanding the processes that support the development of life. In-situ exploration to follow that of the Huygens probe is intended in the form of the coming NASA Dragonfly mission, acting as a demonstrator for powered flight on the moon and aiming to answer some key questions about the atmosphere, surface, and potential for habitability. While a quadcopter presents one of the most ambitious outer Solar System mission profiles to date, this paper aims to present the case for an aerial vehicle also capable of in-situ liquid sampling and show some of the attempts currently being made to model the behaviour of this spacecraft.

Read this paper on arXiv…

J. McKevitt
Fri, 18 Jun 21
52/62

Comments: Global Space Exploration Conference 2021, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 14 – 18 June 2021. Published by the International Astronautical Federation with permission