Huygens Ready for Release

[iceman]

One of the highlights of Cassini's mission to Saturn is about to get underway, when the ESA's Huygens probe detaches from the spacecraft on December 24, and begins its solo journey to Titan. Once freed from Cassini, it'll remain in a dormant sleep until a timer wakes it up on January 14, shortly before it enters the moon's atmosphere. It will take 2.5 hours to pass through Titan's atmosphere, and it may even survive a landing on the moon's mysterious surface.

[rumples riot]

First hurdle to get over, the release, then January 14

[rumples riot]

Huygens should have released by now and be heading for Titan. Wonder how it went?

[beren]

Hope all goes well , following progress on the NASA/ESA sites

[Mick]

Huygens is on it's way to Titan. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm :D

[iceman]

Awesome! Can't wait for 14 days time..

[silvinator]

I heard a report last night on newsradio that explained why the probe was in a deep sleep - it was maintaining a radio silence to preserve battery power. Imagine the anxiousness of the mission scientists as they first turned the probe on and listened, waiting for confirmation of a successful detachment. I can't wait to see what huygen's sends back as it descends throught Titan's atmosphere. There is just such a mystery underneath the shroud, one can only hope there is more than meets the eye.

[rumples riot]

13 days and counting.

[rumples riot]

5 days and counting. Roll on the 14th