The entry of the Huygens probe into Titan's atmosphere starts spectacularly. The plasma in front of the protective shield will heat up to approximately 12,000 degrees during the aerobraking phase. During the further descent into the mist layers and clouds of Titan's atmosphere the probe is braked by a parachute (descent sequence).
In this phase several instruments are deployed. They will measure the chemical composition of the atmosphere, its temperature profile, its interaction with the solar wind or magnetospheric plasma and register acoustic phenomena.
After approximately two hours the probe will reach the surface of Titan. If the instruments remain operative further measurements can be made. The energy supply through ultraviolet radiation, high energy particles or lightning, as well as complex photochemistry is of great importance for creating carbohydrates or cyanide compounds. Ultimately these led to the creation of complex organic molecules and living organisms on Earth.
Six scientific experiments will investigate the surface and atmosphere of Titan, whose composition might be similar to that of the primordial Earth.
The Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (AAS) is participating in the development and construction of two instruments onboard Huygens:
IWF also participates in the data analysis of
Furthermore, the institute participates in various mission analysis aspects of the Huygens entry and descent trajectory and co-chairs (since 2003) the
Further information about Huygens can be found at ESA.
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