All articles tagged with #triton
Chinese scientists are proposing their first mission to an ice giant, aiming to launch a radioisotope-powered spacecraft to orbit Neptune and study its moon Triton, following recent images of Neptune taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Researchers have proposed a radical new idea for a future Neptune orbiter mission by using the thin atmosphere of Triton, Neptune's largest moon, to capture a spacecraft. By employing an aeroshell similar to the one used in NASA's Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID), the researchers suggest that the atmosphere of Triton could sufficiently slow a spacecraft and allow it to enter into a captured orbit around Neptune. This approach could potentially reduce the mission duration to as little as 15 years and provide an up-close view of Triton, delivering valuable scientific insights.
Planetary scientists have long been interested in sending a spacecraft to orbit Neptune, but the extreme distance and lack of fuel make it infeasible with current technologies. However, researchers have proposed a radical new idea: using the thin atmosphere of Neptune's largest moon, Triton, to capture a spacecraft. By employing an aeroshell similar to the one used in a recent NASA test, the researchers believe that the atmosphere of Triton could sufficiently slow a spacecraft and allow it to enter into a captured orbit around Neptune. This approach could significantly reduce the mission duration and provide an up-close view of Triton, delivering valuable scientific insights.
Aerospace engineers have proposed a cost-effective way to send a mission to study Neptune by using Triton's thin atmosphere for a braking maneuver. While the project remains expensive, it could spark conversations about future missions to the outer Solar System. The idea is to deploy a parachute or similar device to maximize drag and slow down the spacecraft as it passes through Triton's upper atmosphere, ultimately getting locked in Neptune's gravity well. Although challenging, this approach could significantly reduce travel time compared to other methods.
Neptune's moon Triton is a peculiar celestial object with several unique characteristics. It is much larger than the other moons of Neptune combined and has an irregular orbit that is inclined at a stunning 67 degrees. Triton's surface features include bumpy, wrinkly terrain, broad plains with massive calderas, and a nitrogen ice cap with cryovolcanoes. The lack of craters suggests that Triton is still partially warm and capable of resurfacing itself. Scientists believe that Triton may have been captured by Neptune's gravity, explaining its strange orbit and suggesting that it may have originated from the Kuiper Belt. Unfortunately, there are no plans for a follow-up mission to Triton in the near future.
The 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid changes the ending to allow for a new chapter in Ariel's relationship with the underwater world, overwriting the original movie's sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. While the direct-to-VHS sequel emphasized Ariel's permanent break with Triton, the new ending allows for the possibility of exploring uncharted waters in a potential sequel without cutting off Ariel from the mermaid world. Triton's growth and recognition that what he wants is not necessarily what his daughter wants is emphasized in both the original and the remake.