 | | | | |
| | | | | |
|
Space Science About Space ScienceESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depthMultimedia Science imagesScience videosAnimationsDownloadsSounds from spaceRSS feeds Media centre Press ReleasesPress kitsESA TelevisionResources Reference sectionGlossaryFAQs Science missions Services HelpLegal disclaimerCommentsSubscribe
| | | | | | | Cassini-Huygens overview
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | This is a computer-rendered image of Cassini-Huygens during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) manoeuvre, just after the main engine has begun firing. The spacecraft is moving out of the plane of the page and to the right (firing to reduce its spacecraft velocity with respect to Saturn) and has just crossed the ring plane.
The SOI manoeuvre, which is approximately 90 minutes long, will allow Cassini to be captured by Saturn's gravity into a five-month orbit. Cassini-Huygens's close proximity to the planet after the manoeuvre offers a unique opportunity to observe Saturn and its rings at extremely high resolution.
Illustration by David Seal
Credits: NASA/JPL/Caltech | |  |  | |
| | | | | The Huygens probe descends through Titan's murky, brownish-orange atmosphere of nitrogen and carbon-based molecules, beaming its findings to the distant Cassini orbiter. The probe is equipped with a variety of scientific sensors to measure the physical properties of the moon's atmosphere; it also carries an imaging device to return pictures of Titan's possibly hydrocarbon-lake-dotted surface.
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | | Cassini/Huygens is an ESA/NASA mission to the Saturnian system. Carried on NASA's Cassini Saturn orbiter, ESA's Huygens probe will explore the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. A few months after going into orbit around Saturn, Cassini will release Huygens for its entry and descent through Titan's atmosphere to the surface. Cassini will go on to make many close fly-bys to continue the global exploration of Titan during its nominal four-year mission.
Credits: ESA / D. Ducros | | | | |
| | | | Mission
| Huygens will be the first spacecraft to land on a world in the outer Solar System. In January 2005, it will land on the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, and the only moon in the Solar System to possess a thick atmosphere. The Huygens data may offer clues about how life began on Earth. Huygens is currently in space, hitching a ride on NASA’s Cassini mission, which was launched by a Titan IVB/Centaur rocket on 15 October 1997. In an artist’s illustration, Huygens is here seen in the lower right corner while approaching the reddish/blue Titan moon below. Cassini is illustrated closer to Saturn.
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | Last update: 3 June 2004 | |
| | More about... Cassini-Huygens factsheetRelated articles Landing on a cosmic icebergNot-so-soft landings on other worldsHeading for Saturn's mysterious moon: An interview with Jean-Pierre LebretonSplashing down on Titan's oceansChristiaan Huygens: Discoverer of TitanJean-Dominique Cassini: Astrology to astronomyRelated links NASA JPL Cassini-Huygens siteWhere is Cassini-Huygens now?Cassini-Huygens Titan conference
|
HI RES JPG (Size: 
HI RES TIFF (Size: 
HI-RES JPEG (Size: 
HI-RES JPEG (Size: 
HI-RES JPEG (Size: