Terrymiller@terrymiller

Follow

NASA Dragonfly Titan nuclear-powered flying robot

The plan for Saturn's moon Titan is to send a flying robot named Dragonfly, and NASA has it powered by nuclear heat. An MMRTG running on plutonium-238 is what generates the electricity, so this machine isn't built like the rovers you're used to. Flight is the whole point: it moves from one spot to another instead of staying parked. On Titan it'll study the surface and look into complex organic compounds tied to the building blocks of life. Launch is targeted for 2028, with arrival around 2034.

5h

Terrymiller@terrymiller

Follow

NASA Dragonfly Titan nuclear-powered flying robot

The plan for Saturn's moon Titan is to send a flying robot named Dragonfly, and NASA has it powered by nuclear heat. An MMRTG running on plutonium-238 is what generates the electricity, so this machine isn't built like the rovers you're used to. Flight is the whole point: it moves from one spot to another instead of staying parked. On Titan it'll study the surface and look into complex organic compounds tied to the building blocks of life. Launch is targeted for 2028, with arrival around 2034.

5h