NASA will launch the Dragonfly mission in 2028 to study Titan, one of Saturn’s moons.

NASA has confirmed that the Dragonfly mission TitaniumSaturn’s organic-rich moon will be launched in July 2028.

The mission team now has four years to complete the final design of the spacecraft, build it and test its scientific instruments.

The announcement was made this week by US space agency Science Mission Directorate Deputy Administrator Dr. Nicky Foxwhich emphasized that “Dragonfly is an exciting science mission of widespread public interest. Exploring Titan will push the boundaries of what we can do with helicopters beyond Earth.”

The $3.35 billion mission was originally planned for 2026 but failed. detain for two years due to budget constraints and additional costs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dragonfly will reach the surface of Titan in 2034 and will fly around dozens of locations on the moon in search of prebiotic chemical processes common to both Titan and early Earth before the emergence of life.

He helicopterequipped with eight main rotors and flying like dronewill be the first NASA science probe to fly over another planetary body.

The robot will explore from sand dunes to the crater floor, where scientists hope to find liquid water and other organic materials that could provide clues to the origins of life that may have existed on this celestial body tens of thousands of years ago.

“Dragonfly” is designed and built under the guidance of the Laboratory of Applied Physics. Johns Hopkins (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, which manages the NASA mission.