Illustration of the ESA's (European Space Agency) Huygens probe on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The probe measured metres in width

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Illustration of the ESA's (European Space Agency) Huygens probe on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The probe measured metres in width and weighed around 318 kilograms. It was brought to Titan by NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Cassini spacecraft (launched in 1997, not shown). On 14 January 2005, the probe penetrated Titan's atmosphere and collected data during its 2 hour, 27 minute, 13 second descent to the surface. The hard shell protected its delicate interior from high temperatures during the descent. The probe survived for 72 more minutes on the surface of Titan, making it the first-ever successful landing in the outer solar system.

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Size: 4409px × 6201px
Photo credit: © ***DEPENDS ON PIC***/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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