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[45.14] Retrieval of the ESA Huygens Probe Entry and Descent Trajectory at Titan

B. Kazeminejad (Space Research Inst., Austria), D.H. Atkinson (University of Idaho), J.-P. Lebreton, O. Witasse, M. Perez (ESTEC), DTWG Team

The Huygens probe was released from the Cassini spacecraft on December 25, 2004 and arrived at Titan for atmospheric entry and surface descent on January 14, 2005. The Huygens entry and descent trajectory reconstruction commenced with the Huygens probe state vector at the entry interface point (defined to be at an altitude of 1270 km above the surface of Titan) as provided by the Cassini Navigation Team at JPL. Integration of the equations of motion using measured accelerations provided the Huygens trajectory beyond the point of initial parachute deployment. From the surface, the Huygens descent trajectory was reconstructed upwards using pressure and temperature measurements from the Atmospheric Structure Instrument, N2/CH4 mole fractions from the Gas Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer, and the impact time measured by the Surface Science Package penetrometer. Longitudinal drift was provided by the Huygens Doppler Wind Experiment. The entry and descent phases of the trajectory reconstructions were merged by adjustment of the initial state vector. The Huygens trajectory was reconstructed to be maximally consistent with all available science and engineering data.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.