Annabel Peltzer
Grade: 10
Homeschooled
City: Laveen, Arizona
Topic: Triton
"Throughout the history of human presence in space, scientists and explorers have learned to expect the unexpected and reformulate their understandings of the universe due to new discoveries made as we push the boundaries of our solar system. To continue our endeavors and build upon Voyager Two’s legacy, NASA must prioritize sending Trident to Neptune’s largest moon Triton, a destination rich in astrobiology research opportunities and a beacon for potential life forms. Additionally, Trident will fulfill NASA’s Strategic Plan Framework: discovery, exploration, development, and enablement through the continuation of space exploration, innovation, and the search for extra-terrestrial life.
To return to Triton, NASA must prioritize the mission due to a favorable gravity-assist opportunity via Jupiter in 2026 that won’t occur again until 2038. NASA has the technology and business partnership capabilities to enable a successful mission. In addition to using a plutonium power source, speedy trajectory boost, and magnetometer to determine a subsurface ocean on Triton, Trident proposes a collaboration with Ball Aerospace for vehicle design along with various international partners to achieve an economically-feasible, commercially-integrated mission. Trident also meets NASA’s Roadmap to Ocean Worlds standards, and it was deemed the, “highest priority target to address as part of an Ocean Worlds program.” ROW believes that Triton’s geological activity, coupled with its young surface, makes the investigation of an endogenic source important.
Triton has abundant possibilities for scientific breakthroughs. In Greek mythology, Triton means God of the Sea. It’s fitting to study whether a liquid, subsurface ocean exists in the furthest reaches of our solar system which could expand our search parameters for life. Louise Prockter, principal investigator of Trident, stated that the mission, “will answer fundamental questions, such as whether a captured world can be an ocean world, how icy worlds evolve and why Triton might be active today.” Voyager 2 paved the way for Triton and we’re ready to launch Trident to rendezvous with Triton."