Chatroom
 

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum > Science and Space > Space Exploration
Reload this Page Titan via hot-air balloon
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

   

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 11-November-2008, 09:22 PM
ToSeek's Avatar
ToSeek ToSeek is offline
Vulcan Administrator
  
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Greenbelt, MD
Posts: 25,906
Default Titan via hot-air balloon
Titan via hot-air balloon

Quote:
A hot air balloon drifts gently in the breeze, gliding over mountain ranges and vast lakes. Thick clouds extend over the entire horizon, threatening rain. The meager light that filters through illuminates one side of the balloon, making it look like a giant question mark in the sky.

This is a vision that floats in the minds of scientists who study Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The Cassini spacecraft currently traveling around the Saturn system has provided us with our best glimpse yet of Titan, but there is still much to be explored.

Athena Coustenis, an astrophysicist and planetologist with the Paris Observatory, is helping draft a plan to send a hot air balloon to Titan, as well as an orbiting spacecraft and a surface probe. Called TSSM – the Titan and Saturn System Mission – this three-tiered approach to exploration could shed more light on the still-mysterious moon.
__________________
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 11-November-2008, 09:38 PM
ravens_cry's Avatar
ravens_cry ravens_cry is offline
Established Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,059
Default
I wouldn't mind putting on my winter jacket and coming along too, but if that ever happens, it won't be for a looong time. Thanks a lot for finding this ToSeek!
__________________
"The Internet is really, really great..."
Avenue Q

"And a disintegrator beam. People listen when you have a disintegrator beam."
mike alexander
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 12-November-2008, 11:57 AM
ryanmercer's Avatar
ryanmercer ryanmercer is offline
Established Member
  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Greater Helium, Barsoom (Speedway, IN)
Posts: 664
Send a message via AIM to ryanmercer Send a message via Yahoo to ryanmercer
Default
Been there, done that... "A Meeting with Medusa"

Although it would be cool to really explore another body with a hot-air balloon.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 16-November-2008, 04:01 AM
Tuckerfan's Avatar
Tuckerfan Tuckerfan is online now
Established Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gallatin, TN
Posts: 2,000
Send a message via AIM to Tuckerfan Send a message via MSN to Tuckerfan
Default
Given Titan's atmosphere and temperature, I'd think all you'd need was a warm air balloon! Pity we won't have a chance of this being before 2020.
__________________
We want our children to go to the planets. Burt Rutan 6/21/04
Tuckers! Automotive Oddities! Building my hot rod with the help of the intarwebs Those who would delay scientific progress for a little temporary prosperity shall have neither. MachineCast Save the planet, by leaving it! "To be second in space is to be second in everything," LBJ.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Spirit may be a goner! UPDATE: Comm restored! | Nov. 14, 2008 Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch »

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Roswell jay1976 Conspiracy Theories 1185 13-January-2007 04:19 PM
The Solar System from Elsewhere lpetrich Astronomy 2 10-November-2005 10:25 PM
Cassini is now in orbit of Saturn yaohua2000 Space Exploration 259 08-July-2005 11:11 PM
Titan Update Richard0802 Space Exploration 36 17-January-2005 05:39 PM
Titan Unvailed Richard0802 Space Exploration 1 18-October-2004 03:30 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:51 PM.

Contact Us - Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0
©  2006 Bad Astronomy and Universe Today