Huygens probe ready for launch to Titan

[BrandonL]

Scientists in the United States and Europe may get what they want for Christmas if the Huygens probe successfully separates from the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn on Christmas Eve.

Huygens, a 703-pound probe designed by the European Space Agency, is heading for a crash landing on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in January. It is expected to be ejected from the Cassini spacecraft around 10 p.m. ET on December 24.

The $600 million probe will pierce the mysterious moon's thick veil of orange haze to study an atmosphere that scientists believe resembles our own as it was 3.8 billion years ago. They hope Titan can reveal how primordial life began on Earth.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/12/23/titans.moon/index.html

[BrandonL]

Well Huygens is all set to enter Titan's atmosphere Friday. Hoping it goes well, and sends back a lot of data.

[BrandonL]

Wow...getting close! Seems nobody cares ;) But, dammit! I do. Should be entering Titan real soon. So far, telemetry says it's right on course.

This could very well shape a lot of early Earth theories. Very important.

[BrandonL]

It landed safely, whoo!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/14/huygens.titan/index.html

Huygens has arrived.

The probe landed on the surface of Saturn's moon Titan this morning around 7:45 ET, reported elated scientists from the European Space Agency, who are eagerly awaiting data about the cloud-shrouded moon.

"We have a signal. We know that Huygens is alive meaning the dream is alive," said Jean-Jacques Dordain director general for ESA which designed Huygens. "This is already an engineering success and we will see, later this afternoon, if this is a scientific success."

Grinning scientists watching from the ESA operations center in Germany said the first obstacle -- a tricky atmospheric entry -- had been a great engineering feat. Time will tell if all of Huygens' precious data will reach Earth. The probe will continue sending data until its batteries run out or Cassini, the satellite orbiting Saturn relaying Huygens' signal, passes over the moon's horizon in about two hours' time.

"So far so good," said David Southwood, director of science for ESA. "The signal has been solid for a long time."

Can't wait to see what it sends back!!

[WCP]

It landed safely, whoo!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/14/huygens.titan/index.htmlCan't wait to see what it sends back!!


You're in luck. First pictures just received!!

[BrandonL]

Hey now! That's a Mars picture! Titan is covered with icy sludge

[WCP]

Hey now! That's a Mars picture! Titan is covered with icy sludge


Oh, really? Well, I can well imagine why someone would want to spend billions of dollars to send some probe to a dirty snow ball, then.

Maybe next we can send a probe to the sun to see if it burns up?

[WCP]

The point being...if we KNOW what it's made out of, is a picture really worth the expense it takes to get the picture?

Is there anything that can be remotely done with this information regarding this icy dirty moon? If we want to see icy sludge, just go to Canada during winter.

The point being...if we KNOW what it's made out of, is a picture really worth the expense it takes to get the picture?

Is there anything that can be remotely done with this information regarding this icy dirty moon? If we want to see icy sludge, just go to Canada during winter.


You won't see icy sludge in Canada during the winter only in the summer.

[BrandonL]

Is there anything that can be remotely done with this information regarding this icy dirty moon? If we want to see icy sludge, just go to Canada during winter.
Yes, it is known that the moon is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere, being thicker than Earth's. It's hydrocarbon seas are thought to be like that of Earth's billions of years ago. Since we really can't see through the clouds, the pictures will be invaluable. In addition, it also has scientific instruments on board to analyze the atmosphere, and conditions on the ground.

Since we believe it to be just like Earth so long ago, it'll go a long way towards advancing theories as to how life possibly formed.

[WCP]

Since we believe it to be just like Earth so long ago, it'll go a long way towards advancing theories as to how life possibly formed.


But wait...I see the two same camps already dividing. The intelligent design people will say (ho hum) "NO WAY, GOD DID IT!!"

And the evolutionists will say (ho hum) "HAHAHAHAHA!! We told you so and NOW WE HAVE PROOF!!"

And then we talk about it, endlessly, on NoPC and cause all kind of rifts between us that probably shouldn't exist because we're blowing it out of our asses on faith alone.

Hell, and then there's the people who don't even think we landed on our moon.

Yes, it is known that the moon is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere, being thicker than Earth's. It's hydrocarbon seas are thought to be like that of Earth's billions of years ago. Since we really can't see through the clouds, the pictures will be invaluable. In addition, it also has scientific instruments on board to analyze the atmosphere, and conditions on the ground.

Since we believe it to be just like Earth so long ago, it'll go a long way towards advancing theories as to how life possibly formed.


Total waste of money when they can't even cure the common cold which I just endured.

[BrandonL]

Total waste of money when they can't even cure the common cold which I just endured.
Which strain of the over 20,000 that exist?

Oh, and go away if you are going to piss all over my joyful thread ;D

[NorNec]

You're in luck. First pictures just received!!


Funny Road Sign Pic. "Maniac"

[BrandonL]

http://space.com/missionlaunches/huygens_images_050114.html

site is very slow...heavy traffic

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/14/huygens.titan/index.html

CNN has them up as well.

[Larry_Oldtimer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4175099.stm

The Huygens space craft has sent back the first images of Saturn's moon Titan, showing what appears to be a shoreline of an oily ocean.

One stunning black and white image reveals what seem to be drainage channels on a land surface leading out into a dark body of liquid.

Another shows a flat surface that is apparently strewn with boulders.

Oops, not covered with icy sludge all over after all. Predictions by the astronomers are wrong again . . . quite the usual batting average for them. ;)

[BrandonL]

Well, it's kinda hard to make predictions when you can't see through the clouds! ;)

[WCP]

Predictions by the astronomers are wrong again . . . quite the usual batting average for them. ;)




Wasn't this launch by the French? I'm surprised they didn't "quit" before it went to its second stage.

[BrandonL]

The Huygens probe was designed by the European Space Agency, and the Director-General of ESA is French, so I suppose so :) However, the Director of Science for ESA is British.

The Cassini vehicle itself was designed by NASA/ESA/ASI and launched by the USA.

It's caused quite a stir in the environmentalist groups because it is powered by plutonium ::)

[Unca Walt]

Oh, really? Well, I can well imagine why someone would want to spend billions of dollars to send some probe to a dirty snow ball, then.

Maybe next we can send a probe to the sun to see if it burns up?


That is SO stupid, bad. Jeez. Sometimes your ignorance pisses me off.

If we were gonna send a probe to the Sun, stupid, we would DO IT AT NIGHT!!


Unca Walt

That is SO stupid, bad. Jeez. Sometimes your ignorance pisses me off.

If we were gonna send a probe to the Sun, stupid, we would DO IT AT NIGHT!!


Unca Walt


Makes sense to me. ;D

[BrandonL]

Wow, the mere presence of large rocks and boulders leads to so many avenues via geology.

Titan is definately worth a lot of study. Huygens last two hours past what they expected (they planned for a few minutes). I can't wait to see all the data and pictures it sends back.

If Titan truly is a primordial moon, this mission will change (or keep the same) quite a bit.

[BrandonL]

OK, now this is a really cool link from the ESA. It has an acoustical recording of the probe's descent throught the atmosphere, and radar pings from the probe on the way down.

Pretty neat, kinda like the old audio recordings fromt he Voyager's missions to the outer planets.

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEM85Q71Y3E_0.html