Slashdot Mirror
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!
What world are you living in ?
What about the mars rover?
The Venus probes in the late 70s?
HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
Not a planet, but a moon.
I'm no science expert, but I think that's been done before.
Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Maybe you meant it's the first time that Man has placed an object on the surface of a moon outside the Earth-Moon system? That may or may not be true (I really have no idea), but it seems more likely.
Sinch
For the first time in history, Man has placed an object on the surface of a planet outside the Earth-Moon system.
I know some of the news on slashdot can be a little old due to its nature but this is a record.. decades old news reported!
You thought that was a troll?
Have you read the moderation guidelines - did you just finish high school chemistry and are eager to apply your knowledge of the periodic table?
It was kooky nonsense, not a troll! You probably hate the Three Stooges!
Plutonium has an atomic number of 94 and an atomic weight of 244. It is one of the most delicate elements in the periodic table. The only thing (up to now) that has saved it from becoming extinct is that it is difficult to locate. The plutonium atom is so delicate that a fall (in Earth's gravity) of a distance of 10cm onto a hard surface will cause a plutonium atom to be broken into 3 iron atoms, one sulphur atom, and a number of neutrons. Plutonium is commonly found in the stink bombs that kids throw in the hallway at school.