ESA Science & Technology - Titan First Impressions

Publication date: 20 January 2005

Authors: Abbott, A.

Journal: Nature
Volume: 433
Page: 181
Year: 2005

Copyright: Nature Publishing Group

Scientists were ecstatic last weekend as Titan, Saturn's largest moon, dramatically revealed itself to have the atmosphere-bearing, hydrocarbon-based landscape they had anticipated. But Huygens, the European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft that successfully parachuted through Titan's atmosphere on 14 January, has also revealed its share of surprises. The high-risk mission had functioned better than its designers had dared to expect - and they quickly reported that the moon looked even more interesting than they had hoped.