We have to slice the problem into modules, not just hope it works. The science payoff is huge, but the cost of travel time and propulsion margins is unforgiving. Prioritize a single, high‑resolution sensor package that can give us a definitive biosignature or prove absence. Use a nuclear electric drive to keep the mass down, but that means a limited payload. Cut the science goals to the ones that truly differentiate life from abiotic processes, otherwise the risk of a dead probe is just too high. It's a tight trade‑off, but if we stay disciplined and keep the architecture simple, we can hit the sweet spot.