Artist's conception of Cassini orbiter with
the Huygens probe separating to enter Titan's atmosphere. After
separation, the probe drifts for about 3 weeks until reaching
its destination, Titan. Equipped with a variety of scientific
sensors, the ESA Huygens probe will spend 2-2.5 hours descending
through Titan's dense, murky atmosphere of nitrogen and carbon-based
molecules, beaming its findings to the distant Cassini orbiter
as it flies overhead. The probe could continue to relay information
for up to thirty minutes after it lands on Titan's frigid surface,
after which the orbiter passes beneath the horizon as seen from
the probe. (P-45424)
