http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/01/13/huygens.titan/index.html

The Huygens probe is on final approach to land on Titan (Saturn moon). VERY interesting to see what the probe can test on its way down, even more interesting to see if it can film the panoramas of the topography while parachuting through the atmosphere.

The only thing that doesn't make sense to me (as a videographer) is that the scientists hope to film full panoramas as the probe descends, and yet they expect up to 311 mile per hour winds.... The two do not get along. Granted, this probe is as big as a car, but still.

Anyway, it is very exciting and I wish the scientific community the best on this one. What a fantastic journey.

K8

Did anyone hear about the planet "x". I hear a speech on it but this kid didnt give much info.

K8 - they expect a full panaroma because the probe is going to be blown completely around the moon at least once before touching down. XD You can't get a better panoramic view than that.

Wonder if they will be able to see anything visually with titan's thick atmosphere...what kind of imaging is being used? Radar [like what was used on venus] should provide a very detailed 'atlas' though.

MTMO,
I wasn't referring to the straight-down camera that will be attempting to map the surface, I am more interested in the three cameras around the edge of the probe that will be attempting to return video of the descent. Obviously these guys are not idiots, I am just confused as to how they will see any usable video from a parachuted camera platform being buffeted by 300 MPH winds. Tornadoes pick up Semi-tractor trailers and toss em like toys in a 300 mph wind.

K8- imagine shooting a video out of an airliner [~300-400 mph] at high altitude...it would work if the weather permited.
but a microphone for thunder? I need that audio file...
bah, too bad I will be out of radio range for the next week...death valley here I come!

Last edited: Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 1:40:21 PM

Same way that my tank-tube can stay locked on target while driving over rough terrain: gyro-stabilization. I couldn't find if they were using mechanical or digital stabilization, though. Mechanical stabilization (move the lens so that it is pointed in one direction continuously) will give a better quality image, but it is heavy to install all the servos. Digital stabilization ("slide" the picture to match the gyro readings so that a frame "lock" is achieved....used in many high-end camcorders) is certainly lighter, but you risk the "blur" effect unless you have a really fast framerate.

Actually, I am wondering just how turbulent the 300MPH winds are. If it is a steady 300MPH, then it won't be a big deal. If its anything like Jupiter, though…

- Bomb…James Bomb

In a hot air balloon there is no noise [except the burner] because it is moving at the exact same speed as the wind.

In a hot air balloon you are not buffeted by 300 mph winds...... :) If this thing is tumbling end over end, no gyro stabilizers are going to do the job....

300 MPH and a parachute... Wow, how did they work that one out eh?

Stainless Steel parachute silk

If the wind is continuous, it is a piece of cake. The primer chute orients the vehicle into the wind, then the full parachute deploys. If the wind is constant, then deploying a parachute in the wind is no different than deploying a chute in calm air while zooming at 300MPH. Sure, there will be a large initial force, but once the craft is flying within the air mass, it will be stable.

Of course, it is difficult to get a weather report from here, so it may still be a very interesting descent! :P

- Bomb…James Bomb

Tomorrow's weather on Titan: A touch chilly

And cloudy

JB: is the atmosphere as heavy as earth's?

B

Actually, at 1.5 bars, it is about 60% denser than Earth's atmosphere. 300MPH winds will really carry some force.

- Bomb…James Bomb

Ouch!!

Yes,next time you have a paintball gun fight there,be sure to aim AWAY from the vital organs.

YAY, the probe landed successfully and transmitted data for nearly an hour and a half!!! It was only scheduled to transmit for a few minutes after landing before the batteries died, so this is great news.

Next up, hopefully we will see some great images later today.

Can't wait to see what they come up with! Images should be released very soon.

In the meantime, I don't know if you noticed it in my last link, but the European Space Agncy has an MP3 file of a weather report from the Saturn Broadcasting Corp.

Good info, but pretty funny too. "Be on the lookout for a probe that may be landing from that blue planet near the sun."

...Oh those wacky scientists! :)

Slick! Great photos! They've even got sounds!
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/index.html

Some scientist's theorize that liquid methane flows on the Titan.

Is that really true??

Wow.
those rocks/ ice blocks in the foreground of that surface shot are rounded, without sharp corners...that means some sort of liquid erosion...methane or hydrocarbons seem likely.
wow.