Cassini-Huygens Titan Moon Lander Media Briefing on NASA TV right now

[Ian David]

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[Ian David]

1. 14:05 Greenwich time tomorrow, Huygens will start sending data

See also:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/13/huygens.titan/

Huygens to plumb secrets of Saturn moon

By Michael Coren
CNN
Thursday, January 13, 2005 Posted: 10:53 AM EST (1553 GMT)

The Huygens probe parachutes to the surface of Titan in this artist's rendering.




# TITAN: Largest Saturnian moon. May harbor organic compounds similar to those predating life on Earth. Temperature is minus 292 degrees F (180 C).
# HUYGENS PROBE: Spacecraft is 8.9 feet in diameter and 703 pounds (317 kg). Was released from Cassini on December 24 and enter Titan's atmosphere on January 14.
# It will take two hours for Huygens to parachute to the surface.
# After touchdown the probe will sample Titan's atmosphere, measure its wind and rain, listen for alien sounds and, when the clouds part, start taking pictures.

Source: NASA

(CNN) -- The Huygens probe will plunge through the orange clouds of Saturn's moon Titan Friday, offering scientists their first glimpse of the mysterious moon.


Science & Space
Huygens to plumb secrets of Saturn moon

By Michael Coren
CNN
Thursday, January 13, 2005 Posted: 10:53 AM EST (1553 GMT)

vert.huygens.titan.art.nasa.jpg
The Huygens probe parachutes to the surface of Titan in this artist's rendering.

FACT BOX
Cassini-Huygens mission to Titan:

# TITAN: Largest Saturnian moon. May harbor organic compounds similar to those predating life on Earth. Temperature is minus 292 degrees F (180 C).
# HUYGENS PROBE: Spacecraft is 8.9 feet in diameter and 703 pounds (317 kg). Was released from Cassini on December 24 and enter Titan's atmosphere on January 14.
# It will take two hours for Huygens to parachute to the surface.
# After touchdown the probe will sample Titan's atmosphere, measure its wind and rain, listen for alien sounds and, when the clouds part, start taking pictures.

Source: NASA
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(CNN) -- The Huygens probe will plunge through the orange clouds of Saturn's moon Titan Friday, offering scientists their first glimpse of the mysterious moon.

"It's going to be the most exotic place we've ever seen," said Candice Hansen, a scientist for the Cassini-Huygens mission. "We've never landed on the surface of an icy satellite. We know from our pictures that there are very different kinds of geological processes."

If all goes well, the saucer-shaped Huygens will enter the thick atmosphere of Titan Friday at about 5:13 a.m. (ET). The data should start trickling in about five hours later.
<snip>
Huygens is expected to hit the upper atmosphere 789 miles (1,270 km) above the moon at a speed of about 13,700 mph (22,000 km/h). A series of three parachutes will slow the craft to just 15 mph (24 km/h). The chutes and special insulation will protect Huygens from temperature swings and violent air currents. Strong winds -- in excess of 311 mph (500 km/h) --will buffet the craft, at times dragging Huygens sideways after its parachute is deployed.

Sensors will deduce wind speed, atmospheric pressure and the conductivity of Titan's air. Methane clouds and possibly hydrocarbon rain can be analyzed by an onboard gas chromatograph. A microphone will listen for thunder.

Three rotating cameras will snap panoramic views of the moon capturing up to 1,100 images. A radar altimeter will map Titan's topography and a special lamp will illuminate the probe's landing spot to help determine the surface composition.

Engineers say they are confident that Huygens and its suite of six sensitive instruments will survive the descent.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/13/huygens.titan/

[Ian David]

2. NASA Briefing Schedule

January 14, Friday
3 a.m. - Live Coverage Begins
11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. - ESA News Briefing (will confirm if data is being received)
No earlier than 2:45 p.m. - ESA Commentary and presentation of first image and data from Titan

January 15, Saturday
5 a.m. - 6 a.m. - ESA News Briefing "Early Look at Science Results"
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html

[slutticus]

3. I'll be up watching all morning

:)