HUYGENS PROBE RELEASE

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)