Note: This design fails acceptable radiation levels for a crew to Enceladus. Missons to Enceladus will be better met with un-crewed drones. Other from that, there is some good detailed engineering and CAD drawings. RB 11/30/25
Diamond hard science fiction, 2080 technology
Designed and drafted by Robert Brownscombe
Assisted by Claude AI
This design represents an honest attempt at realistic spacecraft engineering for the outer solar system. All feedback welcome.
This is my first application of AI. It has been a collaboration of AI celestial mechanics, delta-V, and CG calculations with my design in conceptual 3-D space using AutoCAD traditional three-view drafting.
I am responsible for the systems concepts; AI assisted with calculations and documentation. This AI was an excellent engineering tool, albeit being quite verbose. All output must be evaluated.
Charles Sheffield and Arthur C. Clarke have been an obvious influence. The Saturn Explorer looks a lot like the Discovery One in Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" for good reason, Clarke and Kubrick had it about right.
The Lander is similar to the Apollo Lunar Module because it works. The aesthetics of the ship are from functional design. The swept wings of the radiators shift the CG aft to maintain stability, not because they look cool.
"Keep it simple. Proven over clever. Maintainable over optimal."
Every system was chosen for reliability and maintainability, not theoretical perfection. If I can't fix it in orbit, it doesn't belong on the ship.
Some ideas I'm particularly proud of:
- Wheels supporting the ring - Mechanical, simple, maintainable bearing system
- Aerobic digestion in the waste tanks - Based on 10 years RV experience
- Air scoops for ventilation - No ductwork needed, forced circulation from ring rotation
- Pallets for cargo - Lighter and more flexible than containers
- Length: 140.8m
- Mass: 2,367t dry / 4,419t loaded
- Crew: 13 personnel
- Propulsion: D-T Fusion drive (15,000s Isp)
- Delta-V: 91.8 km/s total capability
- Mission: 5.4-6.4 years to Enceladus
- Habitat: Rotating ring with variable artificial gravity (0.1-0.5g)
- Landers: 2× reusable surface exploration vehicles
Technical designer (engineering, tool technology, no degree) with 40+ years hands-on experience:
- Boeing aircraft avionics (~2 years)
- de Havilland business jet Illustrated Parts Catalogs (~2 years)
- Solar thermal systems chief designer (1980s California)
- HVAC testing & balancing (commercial systems)
- Machining (engine lathe, Bridgeport mill, CNC)
- Commercial plumbing, hydronic systems
- RV systems operation (10 years aerobic digester)
- Built 1933 Chevy hot rod (Olds Rocket 88 V8)
- Assembled 1952 BSA B33 500 single from crate
Previous life: Barista at New World Coffee House (Eugene, 1968), Forest inventory in Chile, climbed The Grand Teton, repaired and operated 1932 John Deere tractor, flew ICP Savanna ultralight, singing cowboy at Jackson Hole dude ranch.
This repository contains complete technical documentation:
- SATURN_EXPLORER_TECHNICAL_DESIGN_SUMMARY_Rev_1.2.txt - Complete spacecraft specifications
- SATURN_EXPLORER_DELTA-V_BUDGET_Rev_1.2.txt - Mission performance analysis
- SATURN_EXPLORER_CG_SUMMARY_Rev_1.2.txt - Center of gravity calculations
- SATURN_LANDER_TECHNICAL_DESIGN_SUMMARY_Rev_13.1.txt - Surface exploration vehicle specs
- AutoCAD R14 - Because I know it and it works
- Python - For calculations and analysis
- Claude AI - For mathematical analysis, documentation, and collaboration
- 40 years of experience - I started at my dad's workbench.
Target: Enceladus (Saturn's moon with subsurface ocean and geysers)
Timeline:
- Outbound transit: 2.2 years
- On-station operations: 1.0-2.0 years
- Return transit: 2.2 years
- Total mission: 5.4-6.4 years
Science Objectives:
- Geyser sampling and analysis
- Multiple landing sites across south polar region
- Sample return to mothership
- Search for biosignatures in subsurface ocean material
Life Support:
- Closed-loop water recycling (~90% recovery)
- Integrated biological systems (hydroponics + aerobic waste processing)
- Fresh food production (160 m² growing area)
- Variable artificial gravity for crew health
- Spacious, comfortable quarters
Propulsion:
- D-T fusion drive with magnetic nozzles
- Continuous low-thrust capability
- 39% delta-V margin for contingencies
- Hypergolic landers (NTO/MMH)
Thermal Management:
- 4 radiator panels in cross configuration (20m × 28m each)
- 54 MW heat rejection capacity
- Swept-back design for CG optimization
Safety:
- 680t radiation shield
- Redundant critical systems
- Dual landers (mutual rescue capability)
- Proven technology selection throughout
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
- Use for any purpose, even commercially
Under these terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit to Robert Brownscombe, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
Questions? Suggestions? Corrections?
Open an issue on this repository or start a discussion!
Saturn Explorer 🚀 Rev. 1.2 - November 2025