How many years before we colonize Titan?

Question

tens-hundreds- or in thousands of years

Answer 1

G'day Jack,

Thanks for the question.

It will be hundreds of years at the very least. In fact, we may never colonise it.

At the surface, Titan's temperature is about 94 K (−179 °C, or −290.2 °F). At this temperature water ice does not sublimate, so the atmosphere is nearly free of water vapor. Scattered variable clouds punctuate an overall haze in Titan's atmosphere. These clouds are probably composed of methane, ethane or other simple organics. Other more complex chemicals in small quantities must produce the orange color as seen from space.

The findings of the Huygens probe indicate that Titan's atmosphere periodically rains liquid methane and other organic compounds onto the moon's surface . It is possible that areas of Titan's surface may be coated in a tar-like layer of organic precipitate called tholin, but this has not been confirmed. The presence of argon 40 was also discovered in the atmosphere, evidence of cryovolcanism producing a "lava" of water ice and ammonia. Later, a methane-spewing volcano was spotted in close-up images, and Titanian volcanism is now believed to be a significant source of the methane in the atmosphere; previously hypothesized methane oceans now appear to be virtually absent . The October 2004 Cassini flyby photographed bright, high clouds at Titan's south pole, but they do not appear to be methane, as had been expected. This discovery has baffled scientists, and studies are currently underway to determine the composition of the clouds and decide whether our understanding of Titan's atmosphere needs to be revised . Observations by Cassini of the atmosphere made in 2004 suggest that Titan is a "super rotator", like Venus, with an atmosphere that rotates much faster than its surface.

It would take several years to travel there as well. Given the adverse circumstances, it might not ever be colonised. You would need a compelling reason and more advanced technology than we currently have to do it.

I enclose sources for your reference.

Regards

Answer 2

I wonder if you light a match on Titan if anyone will be around to see the match go out?

Answer 3

It will be in exactly seven years.

Are there any other impossible-to-make predictions that you'd like me to make?

Rawlyn.

Answer 4

We already have.