“Passing this mission milestone means that Dragonfly’s mission design, fabrication, integration and test plans are all approved, and the mission can now turn its attention to the construction of the spacecraft itself.”
Space helicopter?
NASA's Dragonfly nuclear-powered helicopter clears key hurdle ahead of 2028 launch toward huge Saturn moon Titan
Submitted 16 hours ago by BrikoX@lemmy.zip to technology@lemmy.zip
Comments
jagged_circle@feddit.nl 10 hours ago
Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Nasa probably won’t even exist anymore in 2028
jagged_circle@feddit.nl 10 hours ago
All money will be diverted to Space Force and SpaceX.
Because military. And because Musk needs more money.
Letstakealook@lemm.ee 14 hours ago
This is a really cool mission! I’m glad they’re on track, and I hope it will be like the rover and last longer than the years planned.
limer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 hours ago
It’s too early to say it, and I hope it never comes to pass, but I hope somebody made future contingency plans to transfer this to another country.
TwinTitans@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Very very cool. Excited to see the results!
Draegur@lemm.ee 15 hours ago
Bummer that it doesn’t specify which application of nuclear power, but seeing as in forced to guess, I’d surmise they’re using RTG.
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
The spicy rocks get hot and the differential between the hot bit and the cold exterior (and titan is VERY COLD INDEED) “pushes” electrons, to put it as simply as possible.
IF SO, it’s pretty normal for the most part; we’ve been using RTGs for generations.
BrikoX@lemmy.zip 14 hours ago
it’s indeed RTG using Plutonium-238.