Synergistic Titan Exploration using a Lander and Orbiter to Maximize Science Return

The Cassini-Huygens mission transformed our understanding of Titan from a hazy veiled moon to a place surprisingly like the Earth, with terrestrial physical processes such as wind, erosion, and rainfall shaping the an alien landscape, but with entirely different chemistry at low temperatures. Dragonfly, a single element mission which fits within the New Frontiers cost cap will arrive at Titan in 2034, and perform detailed in-situ investigations of the materials on the surface. However, its exploration will be limited to regions within its short flight range of the equatorial landing site. The big gaps in our understanding of Titan’s global topography, climate, polar regions, and upper atmospheric chemistry which can only be investigated from an orbiter around Titan will remain to be addressed by a future orbiter mission. Due to the challenges of attaining orbit, past Titan orbiter concepts have been beyond the New Frontiers cost cap. The present study explores the use of drag modulation aerocapture for a Titan Orbiter which fits within New Frontiers. The study shows how a Dragonfly-like lander, and a Titan orbiter which each individually fit within the New Frontiers cost cap, when combined together can provide the science data return equivalent to a Flagship-class mission.