c-upi

DARMSTADT, Germany, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The European Space
Agency's Huygens probe apparently has collected more than 350 images
of the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.
Huygens, which landed on the giant moon Friday, send about
two hours' worth of data back to Earth via relay by NASA's Cassini
spacecraft. The first image appeared to show drainage channels
carved into Titan's surface.
The probe 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
controllers unveiled the first Titan surface image, which was taken
from a height of about 10 miles (16 kilometers). It showed 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.

c-upi

DARMSTADT, Germany, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The European Space
Agency's Huygens probe apparently has collected more than 350 images
of the surface of Saturn's moon Titan.
Huygens, which landed on the giant moon Friday, sent about
two hours' worth of data back to Earth via relay by NASA's Cassini
spacecraft. The first image appeared to show drainage channels
carved into Titan's surface.
The probe 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
controllers unveiled the first Titan surface image, which was taken
from a height of about 10 miles (16 kilometers). It showed 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.
"This is a great achievement for Europe and its U.S.
partners in this ambitious international endeavor to explore the
Saturnian system," said Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA's director
general.