Dragonfly

Dragonfly is a mission to send a rotorcraft lander to Saturn’s moon Titan to characterize its habitability, investigate the progression of pre-biotic chemistry, and search for chemical signatures of water- or hydrocarbon-based biological systems. Dragonfly will travel to Titan (with a quiet cruise phase of nine years), descend through the atmosphere, and land on the surface. The relocatable lander, which carries all elements of the science payload (a mass spectrometer, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, a camera suite, and a geophysics and meteorological package) will make scientific measurements of Titan’s surface composition and environment at multiple landing sites and transmit data directly to Earth.

Dr. Neish shall supply mission experience and scientific expertise regarding Titan’s surface and astrobiology; provide input to mission, instrument, and science investigation development and science operations planning; lead the Dragonfly Astrobiology & Habitability Working Group; and participate in the Geomorphology and Landed Operations Working Groups.

Dr. Yingst shall supply mission experience and scientific expertise regarding in situ exploration of planetary surfaces; provide input to mission, instrument, and science investigation development and science operations planning; and participate in the Dragonfly Geomorphology, Surface/Subsurface Properties, and Landed Operations Working Groups.