Computer Science – Sound
Scientific paper
May 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agusm.p24a..01l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #P24A-01
Computer Science
Sound
5215 Origin Of Life, 6281 Titan
Scientific paper
Titan has been long known to be a photochemical factory : photolysis of methane in its nitrogen-rich atmosphere yields an impressive inventory of nitriles and hydrocarbons. These may be processed further on the surface by occasional transient exposure of these materials to liquid water (impact melt sheets and cryovolcanism). Here I review data from the Cassini spacecraft and the Huygens probe. These indicate an organic-rich surface with a diversity of surface textures and composition. The Huygens probe data indicate the presence of heavy organics (including benzene) in the surface material at the landing site. There is ample evidence also for recent, if not ongoing, cryovolcanic activity, suggesting that the aqueous modification of nitriles to astrobiologically-important compounds such as amino acids, pyrimidines etc. may be extensive. Understanding the details of the surface composition, which is challenging from orbit, begs for a future in-situ mission. A prominent concept for future Titan exploration is an airship or balloon which could drift or be driven slowly across Titan's varied, Earth-like landscape. Science goals that such a mission could address include high- resolution imaging for geomorphology, subsurface sounding by radar, and in-situ sampling of surface material for analysis of organic composition. what about atmospheric science With an airborne platform, surface samples could be acquired from a variety of locations with different degrees and types of surface processing (fluvial sediments, sand dunes, cryovolcanic flows or impact ejecta blankets.)
Beauchamp Pierre
Lorenz Ralph D.
Lunine Jonathan I.
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