[3] Abiotic organic synthesis occurs high in Titan's atmosphere, and a vast water ocean lies far beneath the icy crust, setting up possible chemistry and environment for abiogenesis and potential habitable niches for microorganisms.

Oceanus would conduct its science investigations with a multistage mass spectrometer, an infrared camera that sees through the atmosphere,[1] and a radar altimeter with great vertical resolution.

Oceanus is led by Christophe Sotin, the chief scientist for Solar System exploration at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The Italian Space Agency (ASI) and its contractor Thales would supply the digital portion of the radar altimeter and parts of the telecommunications system.

On 20 November 2017 NASA selected two other proposals for additional concept studies: Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR), and Dragonfly).

[7][8][9] There are three science instruments on Oceanus plus radio science measurements: The Principal Investigator of the mission is Christophe Sotin (JPL), his Deputy is Alexander Hayes (Cornell University), the Project Scientist is Michael Malaska (JPL) and the legacy Project Scientist is Julie Castillo-Rogez.