Astronomy: Cassini-Huygens

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is one of the largest, heaviest and most complex interplanetary spacecraft ever built. Of all interplanetary spacecraft only the two Phobos spacecrafts, sent to Mars by the former Soviet Union, were heavier. The spacecraft, launched in 1998, consists of the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe. The orbiter alone weighs 2125 kilograms. The mass of the Huygens probe is 349 kilograms. Cassini-Huygens is equipped for 27 diverse science investigations. The Cassini orbiter has 12 instruments and the Huygens probe has six. The instruments often have multiple functions, equipped to investigate all the important elements of the Saturnian system. In 2004 the spacecraft arrived at Saturn, the spacecraft will orbit around the Saturnian system until 2008. On 14 January 2005 the Huygens probe descended to Saturn's moon Titan, took measurements of its atmosphere and made the first close-up surface pictures. By measuring the atmosphere scientists hope to discover how life has evolved on Earth. Titan has a prehistoric atmosphere without conditions to form life as we know it. By comparing our atmosphere with Titan's, we hope to learn more about the steps how life starts. The views of Titan's surface suggest a similarity to eroded surfaces on Earth and Mars. Related subjects >> Titan >> Saturn >> Voyager 2

The Cassini spacecraft stands more than 6.7 metres high and is more than 4 metres wide. In this picture the Huygens probe is fitted on Cassini. Saturn approached by Cassini-Huygens in 2004 < JPG image 1024 X 1024 pixels > Titan from an altitude of 16 km The two rocks below center are only about 15 centimeters and 4 centimeters across and lie 85 centimeters from the Huygens probe