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An overview of the descent and landing of the Huygens probe on Titan

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-Pierre Lebreton

    (Research and Scientific Support Department)

  • Olivier Witasse

    (Research and Scientific Support Department)

  • Claudio Sollazzo

    (ESOC)

  • Thierry Blancquaert

    (ESA Science Directorate, ESTEC)

  • Patrice Couzin

    (Alcatel Alenia Space)

  • Anne-Marie Schipper

    (Alcatel Alenia Space)

  • Jeremy B. Jones

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Dennis L. Matson

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Leonid I. Gurvits

    (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe)

  • David H. Atkinson

    (University of Idaho)

  • Bobby Kazeminejad

    (Austrian Academy of Sciences)

  • Miguel Pérez-Ayúcar

    (Research and Scientific Support Department)

Abstract

Titan, Saturn's largest moon, is the only Solar System planetary body other than Earth with a thick nitrogen atmosphere. The Voyager spacecraft confirmed that methane was the second-most abundant atmospheric constituent in Titan's atmosphere, and revealed a rich organic chemistry, but its cameras could not see through the thick organic haze. After a seven-year interplanetary journey on board the Cassini orbiter, the Huygens probe was released on 25 December 2004. It reached the upper layer of Titan's atmosphere on 14 January and landed softly after a parachute descent of almost 2.5 hours. Here we report an overview of the Huygens mission, which enabled studies of the atmosphere and surface, including in situ sampling of the organic chemistry, and revealed an Earth-like landscape. The probe descended over the boundary between a bright icy terrain eroded by fluvial activity—probably due to methane—and a darker area that looked like a river- or lake-bed. Post-landing images showed centimetre-sized surface details.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Pierre Lebreton & Olivier Witasse & Claudio Sollazzo & Thierry Blancquaert & Patrice Couzin & Anne-Marie Schipper & Jeremy B. Jones & Dennis L. Matson & Leonid I. Gurvits & David H. Atkinson & Bo, 2005. "An overview of the descent and landing of the Huygens probe on Titan," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7069), pages 758-764, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:438:y:2005:i:7069:d:10.1038_nature04347
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04347
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