Scientist for a Day

Ojas Kumar

Grade: 5

School: Wildwood Elementary

Teacher: Margaret Rodrigue

City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Topic: Triton

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"If I could send a spacecraft to a moon I would send it to ….. Triton!

Triton is a moon of the planet Neptune that has lots of cool features. I would send a spacecraft to Triton because there is liquid that could be studied for clues of possible life. The liquid water could also help with scientific research. Since Triton has a retrograde orbit and a cantaloupe terrain which is geologically active, my spacecraft could take pictures of the terrain and study the retrograde orbit for possible clues that will help learn more about how Triton formed, what the retrograde orbit is caused by, why Triton is so big compared to other moons, and more questions about this interesting world. The spacecraft could also map the safest ways to triton to help with the future exploration of Triton and the Neptunian system.

The spacecraft could also send a rover or micro-vehicle to the terrain and drill into the surface to find minerals and study the volcanic and geologically active moon. The data the spacecraft gathers will help us learn more about our home in space and expand and adjust our knowledge of science and astronomy. Scientists have many theories on Triton’s past and origins. Some scientists believe that Triton originated in the kuiper belt and shared its past with a similar but smaller object, Pluto. Like Pluto, Triton may have been a dwarf planet with a large moon like Charon. As Neptune migrated to the outer solar system, its gravity must have pulled on to the system and flinched away the object and captured Triton in its orbit. My spacecraft can study the surface and terrain of Triton to find clues that may lead us to the exact past and origins of Triton. Triton also has a very geologically active terrain.

The spacecraft could take pictures of the surface activities which will also contribute to the expansion of our knowledge of the Neptunian system. Since Voyager 2 and New Horizons were the only flyby past Triton the spacecraft could also take clearer and more detailed photos of the moon. The spacecraft could also help learn more about how the outer solar system formed and how it contributed to the modern solar system. The spacecraft could also study temperature and elevation to add to maps of Triton. This will help to build a more flexible understanding of his fascinating moon. There are also many mysteries on Triton's mass and why it is so large to occupy most of the Neptunian system which may be solved by my space craft’s research. Sending a spacecraft could be very beneficial to our knowledge of science and help understand the Neptunion system and questions about Triton, like why is it so big? and many more questions.
So, if I could I would send a spacecraft to Triton."