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Huygens probe impact dynamics

Lorenz, Ralph D. (1994) Huygens probe impact dynamics. Esa Journal-European Space Agency, 18 (2). pp. 93-117. ISSN 0379-2285. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:19866)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

The ESA Huygens Probe is due for launch as part of the NASA/ESA Cassini mission in 1997, to arrive at Titan in late 2004, and will make a 2-2.5 h exploratory descent to the surface. However, the state of Titan's surface is largely unknown and it may be at least partially covered in liquid hydrocarbons. With such ignorance of the surface state, and the limited financial envelope of the project, it is not practicable to design the Probe to 'soft-land'. Survival may, nevertheless, be possible and this paper presents various impact-dynamics analysis methods and assesses the likely impact scenarios and their survivability. It is concluded that the Probe has a good chance of surviving to continue its scientific mission from the surface. The scientific information about the surface that could be gathered from impact-dynamics measurements is also discussed.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: O.O. Odanye
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2009 22:22 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:58 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/19866 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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