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SpaceX signs billion-dollar contract with NASA for $3,35 billion mission to Titan

Written by Rafaela Fabris
Published 26/11/2024 às 20:30
SpaceX signs billion-dollar contract with NASA for $3,35 billion mission to Titan
SpaceX will launch Dragonfly, NASA's nuclear mission valued at R$19,46 billion, which will take 6 years to reach Titan, Saturn's largest moon. (Image: Reproduction)

Elon Musk's company SpaceX will be responsible for launching Dragonfly, NASA's first nuclear-powered mission to Titan.

On Monday (26), SpaceX signed an unprecedented contract with NASA worth US$ 256,6 million (approximately R$ 1,49 billion). The agreement includes the costs and services necessary for the launch of the Dragonfly mission, which will explore Titan, Saturn's largest moon. This partnership marks a historic milestone, as it will be the first time that SpaceX will transport nuclear materials into space.

Dragonfly Mission: Nuclear Power to Explore Titan

Dragonfly will be powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which uses the decay of plutonium-238 to produce energy. This is a significant change for SpaceX, which has previously used solar power for its missions. However, on Titan, which is almost ten times the distance from the Earth to the Sun and has a dense atmosphere of nitrogen and methane, solar energy is not viable.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which is already certified for high-cost robotic missions by NASA, will undergo an additional certification process. This includes a rigorous analysis of the self-destruct system to ensure the safety of the nuclear material on board.

Dragonfly's Journey and Future

NASA's Dragonfly mission will be launched by SpaceX to Saturn's moon Titan with a plutonium-powered helicopter capable of operating for decades and exploring organic molecules essential to the search for life in space.
NASA's Dragonfly mission will be launched by SpaceX to Saturn's moon Titan with a plutonium-powered helicopter capable of operating for decades and exploring organic molecules essential to the search for life in space.

Scheduled to launch in July 2028, Dragonfly will take six years to reach Titan, arriving only in 2034. The spacecraft will be encapsulated and will descend into the moon's atmosphere using parachutes, later activating its eight rotors to explore the surface.

The mission’s primary goal is to investigate sites rich in organic molecules – the so-called “building blocks of life.” Dragonfly will “hop” from one spot to another in short flights, taking advantage of Titan’s dense atmosphere and low gravity to conduct scientific analyses.

Delays and financial challenges

Originally scheduled for 2026, the mission faced successive postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which increased its costs and complicated the schedule. Today, the project has already exceeded twice its initial budget, reaching US$3,35 billion (R$19,46 billion).

Despite the challenges, the partnership between SpaceX and NASA demonstrates the potential of public-private collaboration in space exploration. Dragonfly not only opens up new scientific possibilities, but also reinforces NASA’s confidence in SpaceX rockets for large, highly complex missions.

A historic milestone for SpaceX and NASA

This contract is a game-changer for SpaceX, cementing its role as a critical partner to NASA on groundbreaking missions. Dragonfly promises to be more than a trip to Titan – it will be a journey to expand our understanding of life in the universe and advance the exploration of the solar system.

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Galileo Galilei Frainer Macedo
Galileo Galilei Frainer Macedo
26/11/2024 21:18

Does Titan have life?

Last edited 2 months ago by Galileu Galilei Frainer Macedo
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Rafaela Fabris

He talks about innovation, renewable energy, oil and gas. With over 1.200 articles published in the CPG, he updates daily on opportunities in the Brazilian job market. Suggestions for topics: rafafabris11@gmail.com

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