Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sailing On Titan

Ever since NASA's Cassini probe dropped the European Space Agency's lander Huygens into Titan's atmosphere back in 2005, I've been looking at the photos from time to time. Huygens sent photos that show that Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has liquid lakes and seas. It's too cold there for liquid water. The liquid is probably methane raining down into ethane lakes.
Even so -- wouldn't it be nice to imagine boating on Titan? In a proper boat suited to the conditions, of course.
Turns out that other people think so, too. NASA's looking into the idea. They won't be sending paddlers, though. Their plan is to send a robot ship.
Talk about accessible kayaking... imagine getting the daily report on Titan's paddling conditions, just as Viking 1 and 2 and Sojourner Truth used to send the daily weather report from Mars.

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