Huygens Probe Lands on Titan

WillDraven writes "CNN, NASA and the ESA are reporting that the Huygens space probe has entered the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan after traveling 2.2 billion miles. Pictures from the moon's surface should be available sometime this afternoon" according to the NASA TV schedule. What we know so far is that Huygens landed successfully and sent at least the carrier signal from the surface to Cassini for 90+ minutes, more than expected, and that Cassini has successfully repointed at the Earth and begun relaying the data it received, beginning with test packets. Huygens now sits on Titan, silent forever, while we wait to see whether or how much valuable data Cassini obtained and can send back. Update: 01/14 17:20 GMT by M : So far: they report zero lost packets in the transmission, but one of the two independent data-collection systems is apparently giving some problems. Update: 01/14 21:40 GMT by J : The news is pretty much all good: a very successful mission. Expect to see many photos within hours, but for now apparently only three have been released. Ice blocks or rolling stones -- let the debates begin!

Comments

Re:stupid hippies avoiding danger

[bear_phillips]

nd AFAIK the RTGs used in space probes are ETREMELY rugged

Isn't that about what they said about the Titanic?

Here come the whiners...

[HarveyBirdman]

... for the poor and the children.

Hey, if we could send the poor and the children to Titan, we would.

Re:Pronounce Huygens

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

If you want to say 'Huygens' and have the person you're speaking to understand that you'rr speaking about a space probe, and not clearing your throat, then ignore what you hear on that web site. It only applies to Dutch people.