Cryogenics

Volume 74, March 2016, Pages 31–46

2015 Space Cryogenics Workshop, June 24–26, 2015, Phoenix, AZ Hosted by NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

Edited By Jason Hartwig and David Plachta

Exploring the depths of Kraken Mare – Power, thermal analysis, and ballast control for the Saturn Titan submarine

  • a NASA Glenn Research Center, USA
  • b Space Exploration Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, USA
  • c Penn State Applied Research Lab, USA
Received 23 June 2015, Revised 26 September 2015, Accepted 28 September 2015, Available online 10 October 2015

Highlights

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We designed a submarine to explore the cryogenic seas of Titan.

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Titan seas are primarily composed of liquid ethane and liquid methane.

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Stirling radio-isotope generators are used for power.

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Aerogel insulation, cold plates, and heat pipes are used for thermal control.

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Gaseous Neon ballast system is used for ascent, descent, hovering.

Abstract

To explore the depths of the hydrocarbon rich seas on the Saturn moon Titan, a conceptual design of an unmanned submarine concept was recently developed for a Phase I NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study. Data from Cassini Huygens indicates that the Titan polar environment sustains stable seas of variable concentrations of ethane, methane, and nitrogen, with a surface temperature around 93 K. To meet science exploration objectives, the submarine must operate autonomously, study atmosphere/sea exchange, interact with the seabed at pressures up to 10 atm, traverse large distances with limited energy, hover at the surface and at any depth within the sea, and be capable of tolerating multiple different concentration levels of hydrocarbons. Therefore Titan presents many cryogenic design challenges. This paper presents the trade studies with emphasis on the preliminary design of the power, thermal, and ballast control subsystems for the Saturn Titan submarine.

Keywords

  • Saturn;
  • Titan;
  • Ligeia Mare;
  • Kraken Mare;
  • Cryogenic fluid management;
  • Stirling radioisotope generator;
  • Aerogel;
  • Neon
Corresponding author at: M/S: 301-3, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA. Tel.: +1 216 433 3979.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.