Dubbed TitanAir, the craft would soar through the skies of the icy world before landing on its lakes.
The concept aircraft was selected earlier this month by NASA as part of experimental space technology for study. Now, researchers will be able to develop ideas and more using NASA grant funding.
The concept has been envisioned by Quinn Morley of Planet Enterprises in Gig Harbor, Washington. Its goal would be to investigate the chemistry of Saturn’s largest moon; an icy world whose surface is completely obscured by a golden hazy atmosphere.
Quinn Morley explained: “This Titan Flyer concept aims to ‘drink’ in methane condensation and organic material through a permeable section of leading edge wing skin.
“Capillary features on the inside of the wing will collect this ingested material and combine it into a continuous fluid stream, which can then be routed to science instruments inside the flyer.
“To enable intermittent low-altitude flight, the flyer will land on the seas of Titan like a flying boat – except ‘boat’ implies water, and on Titan, the lakes are made of methane. We’re calling it a ‘flying laker’.”
The latest round of awards will provide $175,000 grants to 14 visionaries from nine states in America.
