news 20-May-2013 14:09:15

Huygens landing site to be named after Hubert Curien

06 March 2007

As of 14 March, an epic space mission and one of the founding fathers of the European space endeavour will be forever linked. ESA, the international Committee for Space Research (COSPAR) and NASA have decided to honour Professor Hubert Curien's contribution to European space by naming the Huygens landing site on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, after him.

Huygens on Titan's surface

The naming ceremony for the Huygens landing site, which will be known as the "Hubert Curien Memorial Station", will be held at ESA's Headquarters on 14 March, in the presence of ESA Council delegates and of Professor Curien's wife, Mrs Perrine Curien, and one of their sons.

As Chairman of the ESA Council from 1981 to 1984, Professor Curien played a crucial part in setting up ESA's former long-term science programme, "Horizon 2000", which included the Huygens mission among its projects.

For the full release, please visit the ESA Science Media Centre

Last Update: 07 March 2007

For further information please contact: SciTech.editorial@esa.int

Images and Videos

  • Huygens Lands on Titan (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=40815)
  • Aerial Stereographic View of Titan (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=39215)

See also

  • Huygens lands on Titan! (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=36368)
  • Titan Surface Landing (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=36280)