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Science & Exploration

Bouncing on Titan

11/10/2012 24309 views 9 likes 279145 ID 00:00:20
English
  • MP4 [13.25 MB]

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The touchdown of ESA’s Huygens probe on Titan in January 2005 is relived in this animation. The sequence is shown in two speeds.
The initial impact of the probe with the surface creates a small, 12 cm deep hole and throws up dust into the atmosphere. The probe then bounces out and slides 30-40cm before wobbling to a rest. Vibrations in the probe’s instruments were recorded for nearly 10 seconds after impact.

The motion was reconstructed by combining accelerometer data from the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument and the Surface Science Package with photometry data from the Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer.

  • ESA / C. Carreau
  • Animation
  • Space Science
  • Huygens
  • Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument Huygens Probe Surface Science Package
  • Animating Descending Landing Touchdown Vibrating
  • Impact Photometry Probe Radiometer Titan
Bouncing on Titan
Science & Exploration

Bouncing on Titan

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Huygens' descent and landing in 2005
Science & Exploration

Huygens' descent and landing in 2005

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Science & Exploration

Huygens Landing

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Science & Exploration

Huygens's descent to Titan's surface

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Stereographic view of Titan’s surface
Science & Exploration

Stereographic view of Titan’s surface

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