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Huygens Probe Lands on Titan

Posted by michael on from the we-get-signal! dept.

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!

11 of 686 comments (clear)

  1. Damn you! by NeoTron · · Score: -1, Troll

    Why did you go tell all the /. readers the Nasa TV url?

    Now I won't be able to watch the webcast because it'll be /.'ed.

  2. This is a momentous day by PhysicsGenius · · Score: -1, Troll

    For the first time in history, Man has placed an object on the surface of a planet outside the Earth-Moon system.

  3. Re:First Data Recieved via Cassini! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    First video received from surface of Titan.

  4. In Soviet Russia by utexaspunk · · Score: -1, Troll

    Titanic probe lands in Uranus!

  5. Re:First Data Recieved via Cassini! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Translation - "Error 503 - Service unavailable"

  6. What Horrors! by HexaByte · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why oh why did we have to do this? We put our Earth microbes contaminated landing craft on Titan, and no one thought of the effect this would have on the Titans?

    Did no one ever read the "War of the Worlds"? We have surely wiped out their kind forever! Couldn't we just stay home and trash our own planet? Oh the horror, the horror!

    On the bright side, cool pics are expected!

    --
    HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
  7. Re:First Data Recieved via Cassini! by menkhaura · · Score: 0, Troll

    00110001 00100000 00110100 01101101 00100000 01101101 00110000 01110010 00110011 00100000 00110001 00110011 00110011 00110111 00100001

    --
    Stupidity is an equal opportunity striker.
    Fellow slashdotter Bill Dog
  8. Won't somebody think of the children???? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Who gives a shit, we should have spent the money on real problems, like world hunger, and starving children in uganda. We should have spent the moeny rescuing tsunami victims!!!! WHY DID THEY SPEND ALL THIS MONEY THIS WEEK ON THIS RATHER THAN SAVING POOR PEOPLE IN INDONESIA?!??

  9. Yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Thanks ESA for attaching your name to a good NASA program. Maybe you can try one by yourself next time.

  10. HERE IS THE FIRST PICTURES FROM TITAN! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    The first image has arrived!...WTF? http://www.terra.es/cine/especiales/elplanetadelos imios/pics/cornelius.jpg

  11. Re:stupid hippies avoiding danger by MindStalker · · Score: 1, Troll

    When they are the same people screaming we need a better environment, but as the same time have stopped all new nuclear power plants from being built, which could put an end to coal power plants. Yes, yes they are dirty stupid ignorant hippies! :)