Huygens Descent Onto Titan Countdown

[Spiffor]

Does Huygens just take pics, or does it analyse the composition of the ground and atmosphere?

[Eli]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Does Huygens just take pics, or does it analyse the composition of the ground and atmosphere?

Yes.

Here's a link to Huygens' payload :

http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=HUYGENS&page=Payload

[floppy_lobster]

Theres a microphone? cool

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Eli
First pic :

what the hell is that huge dark smooth expanse on the right side of the picture?

[alva]

We can expect some colour pics, right?

[floppy_lobster]

probably the methane lakes....or a muddy plain. who knows. Guess we gotta wait for the next series of images.

[Eli]

A sea?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by booger
I agree. ESA could really challenge NASA. Europe has the resources and moreall, europe has a supporting public that NASA does not have. They would make sure these missions get off the ground and no scrapped.

NASA really hasnt really lead the way since the cold war. In fact these last 14 years have been really bad activity wise, for NASA. So much more could of done after the cold war. I can count on one hand the missions that NASA did the last 15 years that are worth mentioning. Not that im knocking NASA. It just seems they slacked off since the commies fell.

ESA and NASA seem to perform best when cooperating rather than 'challenging' each other. huygens-Cassini isn't two missions it's really two parts of a single hugely successful mission.

[Spiffor]

The payload is just wow It's amazing how many instruments can be carried by this little, entirely automated thing.

[floppy_lobster]

Originally posted by alva
We can expect some colour pics, right?

dont think its possible. Something about the visible wavelengths in the atmosphere wouldnt be the same digitally. Same with the MER's. The color would be added afterwords.

[Eli]

Originally posted by alva
We can expect some colour pics, right?

Probably not.

http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~kholso/test_images.htm

Here are some test images, and all of them are grayscale.

Edit : Until you scroll down a bit more and see the color ones. :doh:

[alva]

Originally posted by Geronimo


ESA and NASA seem to perform best when cooperating rather than 'challenging' each other. huygens-Cassini isn't two missions it's really two parts of a single hugely successful mission.

Working together.
Competition
Rivalry

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by alva
We can expect some colour pics, right?

I'm by no means a specialist, but I imagine the colour pics will be reconstructed from the B&W pics, when the scientists know better about the composition of the atmosphere and surface, as well as with the further knowledge brought by the next pics.

[Eli]

Surface pic!

[Spiffor]

The rocks look like they're on something softer. Do you know how soft the surface is?