The study will enable Triton to better understand the development of planets and their satellites in the Solar system.
NASA is considering to send a robotic mission called Trident, Triton is the largest moon of the gas giant Neptune, writes “New time”.
Astronomers expect that the study will allow Triton to better understand the development of planets and their satellites in the Solar system.
The mission of Trident will have to examine the magnetic field to determine the presence of the ocean, to capture the entire surface and use the camera to measure the activity of the plumes are geysers on this moon.
By the summer of 2021 will be selected up to two concept studies, the launch of which is scheduled for October 2025.
Triton may be particularly useful for scientists because of the very unusual behavior. It rotates in the opposite direction of Neptune. Its ionosphere is 10 times more active than any other satellite in our Solar system. Its surface is constantly updated, and it is unclear what drives the clouds and plumes.
Camera “Voyager-2” photographed Triton at the exit of the Solar system, but he shot only 40 percent of the moon. Trident can fill in many gaps, but it will be a long time before these data are received.
Neptune is nearly 4.5 billion km, so it is expected that Trident will not meet with Triton until 2038. However, the American space Agency is still a strong incentive to run. Perhaps this is the best opportunity for NASA to study the plumes of geysers on Triton — if the mission will be delayed, the position of the Sun can interfere with the observations.
The fact that despite the extremely low surface temperatures, Triton has its own, albeit a very sparse atmosphere. It consists of nitrogen with small admixtures of methane and carbon monoxide. Stripes on the surface of Triton, which arise due to the plumes of the geysers, suggest that on Triton, there are seasonal winds.
We will add, earlier the engineer of the NASA Cassini mission to study Saturn said that, despite the extremely low temperatures, one of the satellites of the planet — the Titan — can be considered for future space colonies of humanity.