Otago Research Collaborates with NASA for Titan Exploration

A team of researchers from the University of Otago has partnered with NASA to contribute to the groundbreaking Dragonfly mission, which aims to explore Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. Scheduled for launch in July 2028 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the Dragonfly spacecraft is expected to arrive at Titan in 2034. This innovative rotorcraft will be the first of its kind to explore another celestial body, conducting detailed analyses of Titan’s environment and chemistry.

Titan’s unique atmosphere, rich in nitrogen and methane and significantly thicker than that of Earth’s moon, resembles conditions on Earth billions of years ago, prior to the rise of oxygen. The primary goal of the Dragonfly mission is to investigate chemical species central to astrobiology, thereby enhancing understanding of the origins of life. By studying ongoing chemical processes on Titan, researchers hope to validate hypotheses regarding the chemical pathways that led to life on Earth, while also gaining insights into climate change.

Dr. Ennis, a chemistry researcher at the University of Otago, is leading a project funded by a $941,000 Marsden Grant from Te Aparangi Royal Society. His research focuses on clathrates—icy minerals that encapsulate significant amounts of methane found in deep-sea deposits. Dr. Ennis and his team will create methane clathrate hydrate under varying pressure conditions to analyze changes in its crystal structure.

Once the characteristics of the clathrates are mapped, specialized facilities at both Dr. Ennis’ laboratory and NASA will examine the strength of the binding between methane and its clathrate host. This analysis aims to determine the conditions under which methane is released.

Dr. Ennis believes that exposure to space radiation may lead to the formation of amino acids, which are essential building blocks of life. He stated, “An ensuing detection of methylamine and its chemical analogues intermixed with clathrate material will provide new diagnostic signatures required for Dragonfly’s exploration. Our studies will include an investigation if clathrates have played a role in the chemical evolution of our Solar System.”

Reflecting on his career, Dr. Ennis noted his journey began with the Cassini-Huygens mission, which was also a NASA initiative focused on Saturn and Titan. He expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming mission by saying, “The rotorcraft was about the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. We’re able to fly it from point to point and do chemical analysis on the surface.”

To simulate the icy environment of Titan, Dr. Ennis plans to recreate similar conditions in his laboratory and conduct radiation experiments to explore the potential for life’s ingredients to evolve on Titan over time. He also highlighted the opportunities this project presents for PhD candidates at the university, allowing them to work in advanced laboratories in the United States.

Dr. Ennis, originally from Perth, has been at the University of Otago for eight years. His grant was one of 20 awarded to researchers from Otago, totaling over $14.4 million. This collaboration with NASA not only underscores the university’s commitment to pioneering research but also positions Otago at the forefront of astrobiological exploration.