On Dec. 25, 2004, NASAs Cassini spacecraft dropped a lander called Huygens at Titan, Saturns biggest moon. After Huygens parted with Cassini, the descent to Titans surface took three entire weeks (it landed on Jan. 14, 2005). An artists illustration of the Huygens probe separating from the Cassini spacecraft at Saturns moon Titan.
On Dec. 25, 2004, NASAs Cassini spacecraft dropped a lander called Huygens at Titan, Saturns largest moon. Huygens was a European spacecraft that hitched a trip to the Saturn system with Cassini. Huygens was asleep for the seven-year trip, but its internal timer informed it to awaken right prior to it entered Titans atmosphere. After Huygens parted with Cassini, the descent to Titans surface took three entire weeks (it arrived on Jan. 14, 2005). It spent 2 and a half hours parachuting through Titans atmosphere and sending information to Cassini, which beamed that data back to Earth. An artists illustration of the Huygens probe separating from the Cassini spacecraft at Saturns moon Titan. (Image credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech) After the touchdown, Huygens sent data for another hour and a half before its batteries passed away. The information and images from Huygens revealed that Titan is one of the most Earth-like places in the solar system. It has a thick atmosphere made from nitrogen and methane, and its covered in liquid methane lakes. Huygens even discovered natural molecules on Titan. Scientists now think Titan might be the finest place to search for life in the solar system.Catch up on our entire “On This Day In Space” series on YouTube with this playlist. On This Day in Space Archive! Still inadequate area? Do not forget to have a look at our Space Image of the Day, and on the weekends our Best Space Photos and Top Space News Stories of the week. Email Hanneke Weitering at [email protected] or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..
