Suicide probe takes Saturn mission to climax (Cassini-Huygens)

Yahoo! News (AFP) ^ | 1/13/2005 | n/a

[Pyro7480]

The long wait comes to an end...

[Politicalities]

I said it before, I'll say it again: Godspeed, Huygens! I'm excited :)

[colorado tanker]

An Earth spaceship on Titan. This is way cool. Hopefully, all the instruments will work.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I wouldn't call Huyghens a "suicide probe" in the sense that the Galileo's Jupiter atmosphere was.

It should survive the landing and transmit data for some time as long as its batteries last.

[Professional Engineer]

But will it get to see the Flag the astronauts left? /sarcasm

[Crazieman]

Unfortunately, Cassini is set to turn and transmit after 30 minutes of Huygens landing.

It doesn't matter how long it survives.

[Pyro7480]

I wouldn't call Huyghens a "suicide probe" in the sense that the Galileo's Jupiter atmosphere was.

Yeah, the title is slightly misleading. Also, due to fact that the Cassini probe will move out of transmitter range shortly after the Huygens probe begins its decent, the mission's duration time will be very short.

[Ryan Spock]

Hey! Science is getting pretty sexy and when it manages to get the words climax, suicide, and probe into the same headline.

But kidding aside, I love to hear about this -- it really is exciting stuff.

[colorado tanker]

But will it get to see the Flag the astronauts left? /sarcasm

Someday, PE, although probably not in my lifetime. I'm really encouraged that President Bush has set a goal of a manned mission to Mars. Did you notice that America quit dreaming of traveling to the stars in the 1970's, at the same time Americans quit singing in Hollywood musicals? About the same time a discouragingly large number of Americans adopted self-loathing as their view of our Republic.

[ko_kyi]

"But will it get to see the Flag the astronauts left? /sarcasm"

I forget, was that Waters or McKinney

[Almondjoy]

I have a feeling that the probe is going to land on a cow.

[Viking2002]

I have a feeling that the probe is going to land on a cow.

ROTFLMFAO...... :-)

[Bean Counter]

The only possible way that this could be any cooler, is if Burt Rutan were the guy directing it...

This is gonna be great!

[Professional Engineer]

Waters. Thanks, I had a brain fart, and could remember her name.

[Professional Engineer]

I know I've been disappointed at the state of manned exploration in my lifetime. Maybe the kids will get a shot at it.

[Sola Veritas]

"Titan has a very thick nitrogen atmosphere which also contains lots of methane, and where you see methane you have complex organic (carbon) chemistry,"

Complex organic carbon chemistry? Long chain and branched hydrocarbons - crude oil. Will the surface be covered with crude oil? :-)

[colorado tanker]

It's time to stop thinking of a space truck as a program of exploration and start doing big things again.

[Pyro7480]

It was actually Sheila Jackson-Lee, when the Sojourner probe landed on Mars, asked if the probe could see where the American flag was. It just goes to show that there is little difference between the female members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I heard a rumor that some large earth antennas will be arrayed to attempt to pick up Huyghen's signal after the Cassini relay concludes - will look for confirmation...