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replicant7

Banned

From: Scotland

Registered: 2004-02-17

Posts: 13

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

First of all...I am brand new to this forum, and so apologise if this topic may have already been discussed recently.....
What factors determine the (2 and a half hour)duration of the Huygens probe's decent on Titan ?

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every day is a lifetime

remcook

Banned

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 78

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

mainly battery power and whether it survives the landing I think

Stephen

Member

Registered: 2004-01-16

Posts: 68

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

How long the Cassini mothership can keep it in view is also a factor. Apparently had gone all the way down on the main parachute would have taken too long, so after it has slowed to a respectable velocity the main parachute will be cut loose and a smaller one deployed.

"The main parachute is sized to pull the Descent Module safely out of the front shield. It is jettisoned after 15 minutes to avoid a protracted descent and a smaller 3.03 meter diameter parachute is deployed. The descent will last between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes."
([http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/huygens-mission.cfm]http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/h … ssion.cfm)

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Stephen

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Stephen

Yang Liwei Rocket

Member

Registered: 2004-03-03

Posts: 993

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

the pictures have been great

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huy … 6WD_0.html

you can read about the instruments on the craft here

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object … ...id=1612

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'first steps are not for cheap, think about it...
did China build a great Wall in a day ?' ( Y L R newmars forum member )

Stephen

Member

Registered: 2004-01-16

Posts: 68

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

the pictures have been great

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huy … 6WD_0.html

Well, yes they have been...except that the ones taken so far were not taken by the Huygens probe but by its mothercraft Cassini.   :-)

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Stephen

Yang Liwei Rocket

Member

Registered: 2004-03-03

Posts: 993

Re: Huygens Titan Descent

I suppose the Huygens probe could meet something bad, get ripped to bits by the Titan winds once its drops down into the moon ?

These attempts are not easy, Space even if you've been there before it is not a simple matter, Russia had failed many venus probes, China blew up rocket on the launch pad, the US had lost high tech stuff going to the Moon and Mars, the European Beagle craft was a disaster

Let's hope the little Titan probe goes safe 

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'first steps are not for cheap, think about it...
did China build a great Wall in a day ?' ( Y L R newmars forum member )