No. 22 - Huygens Lands on Titan!
Animations and Models
Follow these links to: Huygens Model and Huygens Probe DescentHighlights
- The 110m Green Bank radio telescope has observed a carrier signal indicating the arrival of the probe
- Signal observed for over 5 hours suggesting maximum possible data transmission between the Huygens probe and the Cassini spacecraft
- Playback of probe data has commenced
- PSA data received from Cassini confirming communication between the two spacecraft
- Surface landing confirmed
Event Summary
|
Time |
Event |
|
21:00 |
End of first full playback of data |
|
16:50 |
End playback of first partition of data |
|
16:35 |
Surface touchdown plus minimum of 2 hours confirmed Preliminary telemetry shows the spacecraft started at a spin rate of 9.5 rpm and had fallen to 3.6 rpm by 50 km above the surface Secondary parachute successfully deployed All 6 instruments activated Click for full story |
|
16:20 |
First data received from Huygens probe |
|
15:26 |
Confirmation received that Huygens probe data was successfully communicated to the Cassini spacecraft |
|
15:00 |
First Huygens probe data expected at around 16:00 Probe life has now been over 5 hours |
| 14:10 | Playback of probe data begins Ground control confirms that a signal is still being received on Earth from the Huygens probe, suggesting its batteries lasted well beyond the minimum design limit of 2 hours 15 minutes |
| 13:47 | Cassini Orbiter has been turned in its orbit to poin the high gain antenna towards Earth |
| 12:30 | Confirmation given of signal tracking for at least 2 hours |
| 11:24 | Estimated time of surface impact and end of the descent phase |
| 11:23 | Descent lamp activated to provide ground reflectivity measurements |
| 11:12 | Cassini spacecraft undergoes closest approach to Titan passing at an altitude of 60 000 km at a speed of 5.4 km per second |
|
10:30 |
Green Bank 110 m telescope confirms a carrier signal from the Huygens probe. Signal indicates that the probe has survived the entry phase and that the instrument payload is active. Click for full story |
|
09:49 |
Probe approximately 50 km above the surface |
|
09:25 |
Main parachute separation and deployment of drogue chute |
|
09:11 |
Measurements begin at a predicted altitude of around 170 km |
| 09:10 | Pilot chute deploys Main parachute deploys Probe begins transmission |
|
09:09 |
Probe feels maximum deceleration |
|
09:06 |
Probe reaches interface altitude of 1270 km |
|
08:44 |
Probe turns transmitters on |
|
07:02 |
Cassini orbiter turned to point at Titan |
| 04:44 | Huygens onboard timer activates the spacecraft |
Last Update: 1 September 2019