DEEP (Drilling Enceladus Exploration Project)

DEEP (Drilling Enceladus Exploration Project) This mission will go to Enceladus (a moon of Saturn) and drill under the ice to search for hydrothermal vents and take water samples. The lander will be launched by an Atlas V rocket and powered by a Radioisotope Power System (RPS) which in order to reach Saturn will do gravity assists around Venus and Jupiter. It will take seven years to get to Saturn. DEEP will take pictures of the surface and analyze the samples. DEEP will use thrusters on its side to ensure a smooth landing, without damaging the onboard systems. The drill will have a sample collector that retracts into the lander, then studies the samples to see if life could be possible. The RPS will also help heat the spacecraft in the cold of the outer solar system. The samples will be analyzed onboard with the data transmitted back to earth. I am very focused and interested when working on a project, with a particular passion on space topics, and I think that would help with mission success.