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Few places in the solar system are better suited to a balloon than Titan. The combination of low gravity and high atmospheric density makes Saturn\u2019s largest moon ideal for a lighter than \u201cair\u201d vehicle, and the idea to put one there has been around for at least two decades. So why haven\u2019t we yet? The simple answer is the size of the necessary balloon is too large for the existing launch platforms. But a team from Boeing, the prime contractor on the Space Launch System (SLS), believes their new launch platform will be capable of getting a large balloon into orbit, along with its necessary scientific payload \u2013 and start unlocking the mysteries of this intriguing moon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n We\u2019ve reported various balloon missions to Titan, including some that would \u201cwalk,\u201d but Boeing\u2019s design is more akin to a traditional blimp. It would have a balloon filled with helium and two ballast tanks that, combined with a cruciform tail, would allow the balloon to control its roll, pitch, and yaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n The balloon would intake local atmospheric gases to descend or expel them to rise to control its altitude. The Boeing engineers offered two different altitude configurations: a 150m3 balloon for a 5km altitude or a 400m3 balloon for a 20km altitude orbit. When compressed, both balloon sizes can fit into an SLS payload fairing.<\/p>\n \n