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DARMSTADT, Germany, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The first image
returned to Earth by the European Space Agency's Huygens probe
appears to show drainage channels carved into the surface of Titan.
The probe, which landed on Saturn's moon Titan early Friday,
completed transmitting all its data within a few hours and ESA
scientists are just beginning to process what has been received.
Calling the mission a "resounding success," ESA mission
controller unveiled the first image of the surface of Titan, which
is Saturn's largest -- and the solar system's second-largest --
moon. The image, taken from a height of about 10 miles (16
kilometers), shows a landscape that resembles mountainous landscapes
on Earth, complete with channels that appear to have been carved by
the erosive effects of liquid.
Though Titan is far too cold to harbor liquid water -- its
surface temperature is hundreds of degrees below zero -- scientists
think the moon could be home to seas, lakes and rivers of liquid
methane or nitrogen, two of the chief components of its atmosphere.
Huygens had piggy-backed aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft
for seven years before separating Dec. 25 on a dead-stick trajectory
toward Titan. The probe entered the moon's atmosphere and apparently
parachuted successfully to Titan's surface.
Cassini has flown past Titan to the point where it can no
longer receive signals from Huygens.