Scientists in the US have also been studying a Titan balloon concept
A mission could be launched before the end of the next decade to put a balloon on Titan, the hazy Saturnian moon.
The balloon is one of several ideas being considered by the European Space Agency as it sketches out where its science should be focussed in future.
Other proposals include an X-ray telescope that flies in two parts; and a sample-return mission to an asteroid.
All the ideas will be subjected to further study; and are likely to evolve as international partners get involved.
Eventually, two missions will be selected, one to fly no earlier than 2017 and the other no earlier than 2018.
Esa's future-scoping project is known as Cosmic Vision. It assesses the big questions currently in space science and then tries to find mission architectures that can best deliver the answers.
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