Concept for Titan Exploration Using a Radioisotopically Heated Montgolfiere

This paper describes the results of a recent Titan exploration mission study aimed at investigating optimal methods for scientific observation of the atmosphere and surface of this veiled moon. During the course of this study a mission design concept was evolved which involves sending a two element mission to Titan, consisting of an orbiter for global observations and data relay, and an aerial vehicle which would drift in the atmosphere for more detailed surface study. The type of aerial vehicle proposed is a hot air balloon, or montgolfiere, which would use the Titan atmosphere, heated using the waste heat from its radioisotope power system to provide long term buoyancy. Once deployed, the montgolfiere would ride with the easterly winds, occasionally changing altitude to take advantage of possible reverse wind directions and even descending to the surface to physically sample sites of interest as they come up. Seasonal and tidal north-south winds would allow the mission to explore different latitudes, which Cassini data have shown to be amazingly diverse in geologic nature. Communication from the montgolfiere would be relayed through the accompanying orbiter spacecraft, as well as directly to Earth, providing the potential for data return from Titan's surface equivalent to that provided by many comparable orbiter missions at much closer destinations.