Huygens Turbulence Ruining Images?

[thalion]

Careful studies of Titan's atmosphere over the past few years have shown that it (probably) has strong upper-level winds, analogous to Earth's jet streams. If Huygens gets trapped in these winds, is it possible that the probe could be buffeted enough to ruin any possible images, at least until it reaches (presumably) quieter lower levels of the atmosphere? I hope the imaging team and designers have considered this possibility.

 

[rogers_buck]

If it does, we'll know who to beat up!

 

[CalliArcale]

Well, the Veneras did okay going through Venus' super-fast winds and then entering the almost dead calm below the clouds. If it's going fast enough at the time, I don't think it'll make much difference to Huygens' trajectory. Of course, we have no way of knowing how much wind is at the surface; I think the team is hoping it's like Venus, with fast winds aloft and calm air below, but I could be mistaken. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[rogers_buck]

I don't believe the veneras used parachutes. They just dropped through the atmosphere using their girth and the thick air. The Huygens opens a shoot fairly early in the game as I recall. It would be nasty if it were carried beyond the lim...<br />

 

[CalliArcale]

Good point. But still, Huygens won't open its chute right away. It has to slow down a bit first, and its heatshield will do that. Even in Mars' thin atmosphere they don't pop the 'chute right away. We'll all have to cross our fingers. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[spacechump]

Oh the Veneras did use parachutes but they were used early in the game after the heat shield did its job. A drogue and main chute were used before those were released as well and it was allowed to use the girth of the air like you said.

 

[yurkin]

<font color="yellow"> is it possible that the probe could be buffeted enough to ruin any possible images, at least until it reaches (presumably) quieter lower levels of the atmosphere? </font><br />No, at that altitude I don’t think it will be able to take surface pictures, at least not in the visual spectrum. If buffeting does occur I’m pretty sure that ESA engineers will ultimately be able to piece together what the image would look like.<br /><br />My concern is that the strong winds and thicker then expected atmosphere will mean Huygens will have a much longer hang time in the atmosphere then expected. This could mean that its battery runs dry, Cassini leaves the horizons, or something else bad happens long before Huygens ever reaches the ground.<br /><br />Honestly if ESA was smart they should be playing down expectations as much as possible. Huygens is primarily an atmospheric probe, a floater not a lander. Landing is not its primary objective just a bonus.<br />

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"Honestly if ESA was smart they should be <b>playing down expectations</b>... Landing is not its primary objective just a bonus."</font><br /><br />I think they <b>have</b> been doing a good job of this. I, like many others, have been focusing on what Huygens will find on the surface, but I think the articles I have read make clear that the probe is not designed for a landing -- but <b>was</b> designed with the possibility of extra science after landing as an extra. <br /><br />What does the surface look like? What is its composition? I think these questions can be largely answered with data gathered before the probe hits the surface. Although I guess more detailed compositional data will be possible if Huygens remains functioning after touchdown.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>