Huygens Probe to Land on Titan: Webcast Schedule

[onedomino]

Mission managers for the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Huygens probe said the spacecraft is on course for its descent to Saturn's mysterious moon Titan on Friday, Jan. 14. The probe, which detached from NASA's Cassini orbiter last month, will be the first object to explore on-site the unique environment of Titan, whose chemistry is thought to be very similar to that of early Earth, before life formed. The data gathered during the probe's 2 1/2 hour descent through Titan's atmosphere will be transmitted from the probe to the Cassini orbiter and then back to Earth.

For broadband, connect to live webcasts here: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

January 14, Friday

3 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. - Live Coverage and Commentary "Cassini Turns Towards Titan - Interruption of Radio Contact" - JPL/ESA

5 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. - Live Coverage and Commentary "The Huygens Probe Enters the Atmosphere of Titan" - JPL/ESA

6:30 a.m. - 7 a.m. - JPL Commentary - JPL (Mission Coverage)

7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. - ESA News Briefing "Mission Status" - JPL/ESA

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - ESA Commentary on Huygens Probe Mission - JPL/ESA (Mission Coverage)

9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. - JPL Commentary - JPL (Mission Coverage)

10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - ESA Commentary "Cassini Turns Back to Earth - Data Transmission Begins" - JPL/ESA

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - JPL Commentary - JPL (Mission Coverage)

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Huygens Probe News Briefing - JPL/ESA (Mission Coverage)

1 p.m. - NASA Update with Sean O'Keefe - KSC

2:45 - 3:15 p.m. - ESA Commentary "Presentation of First 18 Images from Titan" - JPL/ESA (Mission Coverage)

5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - ESA Commentary and "Additional Images from Tital & B-Roll" - JPL/ESA

5:30 - 6 p.m. - JPL Commentary - JPL (Mission Coverage)

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[onedomino]

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01.14.05 (12:30 p.m. ET) - European Space Agency mission managers for the Huygens probe confirm that data of the probe's descent to Saturn's moon Titan are being received. They expect to see first images around 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time. The data was transmitted from the probe to NASA's Cassini spacecraft and then back to Earth. Scientists are interested in Titan because its chemistry is thought to be very similar to that of early Earth, before life formed.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
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[onedomino]

14 January 2005
This is one of the first raw images returned by the ESA Huygens probe during its successful descent. It was taken from an altitude of 16.2 kilometres with a resolution of approximately 40 metres per pixel. It apparently shows short, stubby drainage channels leading to a shoreline.
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMCXM71Y3E_1.html
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[onedomino]

14 January 2005
This raw image was returned by the ESA Huygens DISR camera after the probe descended through the atmosphere of Titan. It shows the surface of Titan with ice blocks strewn around. The size and distance of the blocks will be determined when the image is properly processed.

Credits: ESA/NASA/University of Arizona

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMBQO71Y3E_1.html

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[freeandfun1]

14 January 2005
This raw image was returned by the ESA Huygens DISR camera after the probe descended through the atmosphere of Titan. It shows the surface of Titan with ice blocks strewn around. The size and distance of the blocks will be determined when the image is properly processed.

Credits: ESA/NASA/University of Arizona

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMBQO71Y3E_1.html

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looks like river rocks to me

 

[onedomino]

looks like river rocks to me

You're right, they are rounded like river rocks. But a river of what? Liquid methane? The image caption says they are "blocks of ice." The first image I posted shows streams running to a shoreline (from far overhead). I want to see a closer photo of the "shoreline."
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