JAKARTA – The US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has finally selected a launch service provider for the Dragonfly mission. SpaceX is the space company chosen to carry out this mission.
Dragonfly is a helicopter designed to explore Titan, a moon of the planet Saturn. The Dragonfly launch mission is under NASA’s New Frontiers Program and is scheduled to fly in mid-2028.
“Dragonfly is the fourth mission in NASA’s New Frontiers Program, managed by the NASA Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington,” NASA said in its latest report.
NASA has awarded SpaceX a contract worth 256.6 million US dollars (Rp. 4,082 trillion).
Dragonfly’s mission management contract covers launch services, mission costs, and the use of a Falcon Heavy rocket to deliver the helicopter into space.
The launch period will be open from July 5 to July 25, 2028. The plan is for Dragonfly to take off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s flight facility in Florida.
When Dragonfly lands on Titan, this unmanned aircraft will explore different areas, similar to the Perseverance spacecraft on Mars. It’s just that Perseverance doesn’t fly like a Dragonfly.
While exploring Titan, Dragonfly will collect samples and identify environmental potential using scientific payloads from partners around the world. Dragonfly will also study the development of prebiotic chemistry on the Moon.
“Carbon-rich material and liquid water may have been mixed for a long time (on Titan),” NASA said. “(Dragonfly will also) look for chemical indicators of whether life was based on water or There was once water on Saturn’s moons.”
2024-11-27 03:04:00
#SpaceX #NASAs #Dragonfly #helicopter #Titan #Saturns #moon
**PAA: [Planning & Analyzing Argument]:** Based on the information provided, argue why choosing SpaceX for the Dragonfly mission aligns with NASA’s goals for the New Frontiers program.
## Interview: Dragonfly Takes Flight: SpaceX to Land Helicopter on Titan
**Host:** Welcome to World Today News. Today, we delve into the fascinating world of space exploration with a groundbreaking mission on the horizon. NASA has selected SpaceX to launch its Dragonfly mission, a groundbreaking helicopter designed to explore Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. With us today are two experts: Dr. [Expert 1 Name], a leading planetary scientist specializing in Titan’s environment, and Ms. [Expert 2 Name], an aerospace engineer with expertise in spacecraft design and interplanetary travel.
**Section 1: The Dragonfly Mission**
**Host:** Dr. [Expert 1 Name], could you shed light on why Titan is such a compelling target for exploration? What makes it unique among other celestial bodies?
* **Dr. [Expert 1 Name]:** Titan truly is a fascinating world, likened to a laboratory in the outer solar system. It’s the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere, similar in some ways to early Earth. This provides a unique opportunity to study prebiotic chemistry and the possibility of life beyond our planet.
**Host:** Ms. [Expert 2 Name], the Dragonfly mission presents a significant technological challenge. What makes a Helipcopter the best vehicle for exploring Titan?
* **Ms. [Expert 2 Name]:** Titan’s thick atmosphere and low gravity make flying far more efficient than wheeled rovers. The Dragonfly’s multi-rotor design allows for vertical takeoff and landing, enabling it to reach diverse and challenging terrains, including towering dunes and vast lakes.
**Section 2: The Collaboration and choix of SpaceX**
**Host:** Dr. [Expert 1 Name], NASA’s Dragonfly mission falls under the New Frontiers program. Could you explain the significance of this program and what it entails?
* **Dr. [Expert 1 Name]:** The New Frontiers program fosters innovative, cost-effective missions to explore the solar system. These missions delve into unknown territories, pushing the boundaries of our scientific understanding.
**Host:** Ms. [Expert 2 Name], SpaceX was selected as the launch service provider through a competitive process. What qualities make SpaceX well-suited for this momentous undertaking?
* **Ms. [Expert 2 Name]:** SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket boasts impressive lifting capacity and reliability, crucial for deploying the Dragonfly to Titan. Additionally, SpaceX’s track record of innovation and cost-effectiveness aligned with NASA’s goals.
**Section 3: Scientific Goals and Future Implications**
**Host:** Dr. [Expert 1 Name], what are the primary scientific objectives of the Dragonfly mission? What mysteries do you hope to unravel during its journey?
* **Dr. [Expert 1 Name]:** Dragonfly aims to assess Titan’s habitability by studying its potential for prebiotic chemistry and the role of water and carbon-rich molecules in its evolution.
**Host:** Ms. [Expert 2 Name], the Dragonfly mission is scheduled to launch in 2028. What are the potential implications of this mission for future human exploration beyond Earth?
* **Ms. [Expert 2 Name]:** Dragonfly could pave the way for future robotic and even human exploration of Titan, its resource potential, and the icy worlds throughout our solar system.
**Host:** Thank you both for providing such valuable insights. The Dragonfly mission promises to be an exciting chapter in humanity’s journey to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos.
**Disclaimer:** This interview is fictionalized and based on the information presented in the article.
