EXPLORATION OF TITAN

TThe Exploration of Titan Ralph D. Lorenzhe exploration of Saturn’s moon Titan is reviewed, noting the dramatic recent improvements in our knowledge of this strange world from the ongoing inter-national Cassini-Huygens mission, results from which are summarized. Among Cassini’s discoveries are the remarkable richness and complexity of its organic chemistry, a strikingly Earth-like landscape with hydrocarbon lakes and seas, and vast fields of organic sand dunes interspersed with craters and icy mountains. The breadth of scientific questions posed by Titan’s Earth-like landscape and meteorology, and its organic-rich prebiotic chemistry, set the stage for Titan to become a key target for future solar system exploration, possibly by aircraft exploiting its thick atmosphere and low gravity