Spaceflight Now



Spaceflight Now +



Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers.

Huygens mission science
After entering orbit around Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft will launch the European Huygens probe to make a parachute landing on the surface of the moon Titan. The scientific objectives of Huygens are explained by probe project manager Jean-Pierre Lebreton. (3min 14sec file)
 Play video

Saturn's moon Titan
Learn more about Saturn's moon Titan, which is believed to harbor a vast ocean, in this narrated movie. (4min 01sec file)
 Play video

Become a subscriber
More video



First Huygens pictures
Posted: January 14, 2005


This image was returned January 14 by ESA's Huygens probe during its successful descent to land on Titan. This is the coloured view, following processing to add reflection spectra data, gives a better indication of the actual colour of the surface. Initially thought to be rocks or ice blocks, they are more pebble-sized. The two rock-like objects just below the middle of the image are about 15 centimetres (left) and 4 centimetres (centre) across respectively, at a distance of about 85 centimetres from Huygens. The surface is darker than originally expected, consisting of a mixture of water and hydrocarbon ice. There is also evidence of erosion at the base of these objects, indicating possible fluvial activity. Credits: ESA/NASA/University of Arizona
 

Spaceflight Now Plus
Video coverage for subscribers only:
VIDEO: THE NEW PICTURES PRESENTED WITH EXPERT NARRATION QT
VIDEO: TODAY'S PHOTO AND SCIENCE BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: TODAY'S PHOTO AND SCIENCE BRIEFING FOR IPOD

VIDEO: THE FIRST PICTURE FROM HUYGENS IS REVEALED QT
VIDEO: OFFICIALS OFFER THOUGHTS AFTER SEEING PICTURE QT
VIDEO: HUYGENS POST-LANDING BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: HUYGENS POST-LANDING BRIEFING FOR IPOD
VIDEO: STATUS REPORT DURING DESCENT DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: MISSION STATUS REPORT DURING DESCENT FOR IPOD
VIDEO: HUYGENS PRE-ARRIVAL NEWS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND
AUDIO: HUYGENS PRE-ARRIVAL NEWS BRIEFING FOR IPOD

VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF HUYGENS PROBE'S SCIENCE OBJECTIVES QT
VIDEO: JULY NEWS BRIEFING ON CASSINI'S PICTURES OF TITAN QT
VIDEO: PICTURES SHOWING TITAN SURFACE FROM OCT. FLYBY QT
VIDEO: WHAT'S KNOWN ABOUT TITAN BEFORE THE FIRST FLYBY QT
VIDEO: NARRATED MOVIE OF CLOUDS MOVING NEAR SOUTH POLE QT
VIDEO: OCT. BRIEFING ON RADAR IMAGES OF TITAN SURFACE QT
SUBSCRIBE NOW