From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   David Given   wrote:   
   >Assuming it makes it down in one piece, and doesn't sink, it may broadcast   
   >back a small amount of data before Cassini passes below the horizon.   
   >I believe they're not going to make any attempt to reacquire the signal on   
   >a second pass; I can't find any information on what Huygen's power source   
   >is. It's probably simple batteries that will be flat by the time Cassini   
   >comes back into range.   
      
   Correct, it's batteries, and between battery exhaustion and an extremely   
   cold environment, there is no hope of Huygens surviving more than a short   
   while on the surface.  (As I noted in my posting, it's primarily an   
   atmosphere probe, so lengthy survival on the surface was not a design   
   priority.)   
   --   
   "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer   
                                   -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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