Unraveling The Mysteries of Mimas

In February 2024, researchers confirmed the presence of a subsurface ocean residing in Saturn’s smallest and innermost major moon, Mimas. The discovery sent ripples through the scientific community, as Mimas lacks any external indicators of churning waters below. The moon’s heavily cratered, geologically inactive surface and eccentric orbit suggest that its ocean is less than 25 million years old. This ocean's remarkable youth offers a window into the prospect for living organisms to emerge and the early stages of ocean development. My mission, Mystery, will focus on determining whether there are habitable conditions on Mimas. Mystery is an orbiter spacecraft that will collect precise data through numerous flybys of Mimas. It will deploy an imaging system with wide-angle and narrow-angle cameras, ice-penetrating radar, a magnetometer, and other scientific instruments. Mystery’s findings will help scientists analyze the ocean’s composition, map its circulation, and assess its qualities such as size, salinity, and the depth of the icy shell above. RPS (radioisotope power system) will generate reliable power for Mystery. Compact and robust, it doesn’t require sunlight and will provide power in Saturn’s dark environment that receives 1% of the sunlight Earth receives. The excess heat it produces will allow Mystery’s payload and on-board systems to function despite freezing temperatures. My problem-solving ability will prove extremely valuable, as every mission faces adversity. During pre-launch planning, I will collaborate with my team to predict potential challenges and preplan solutions using methods such as FMEA. If unforeseen obstacles occur, I will quickly conceive innovative solutions. With teamwork, my problem-solving ability, and the power of RPS, Mystery will achieve mission success and contribute to the search for life beyond Earth.