Huygens Project introduction

24th January 2018

The joint NASA/ESA/ASI mission CASSINI/HUYGENS allowed Huygens probe to land on Saturn's moon Titan in 2005. During its descent on Titan, the spin direction of the probe was unexpected. Thus, the comprehension of its origins is a major point for future missions and space agencies.

The LPC2E (Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace) laboratory and the European Space Agency ordered a study concerning the unexpected spin of the Huygens probe during its descent on Titan. This academic project consists in an experimental study of the aerodynamic behaviour of the probe in landing conditions in order to evaluate and characterize a spin issue encountered during its descent in the atmosphere of the Saturn's moon. Previous studies have shown the spin issue is due to structural aspects. Indeed, the rotation could be induced by one of the appendages. 

The study comes in 6 work-packages spread over preliminary studies concerning Titan's atmosphere conditions and probe behaviour, the preparation of probe model, wind tunnel tests and results analysis.

More precisely, the project is firstly focused on studying Titan atmospheric data provided by the probe during its descent. In fact, the aim is to find out when the rotation issue appeared. Then, these data are notably used to establish the similarities between Titan's atmosphere and the wind tunnel space in order to reproduce the probe behaviour on Titan. Based on these studies, engineers are able to define the right wind tunnel test conditions.

Finally,  the appendages influence the moment of the probe and the study of this impact is determinant to identify the cause of the issue. Thereafter, the wind tunnel tests will confirm or invalidate the theory and the previous calculations. 

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Source :

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2017/04/Cassini_between_Saturn_and_the_rings