XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.astro   
   From: john.thingstad@chello.no   
      
   On 16 Jan 2005 06:18:31 -0800, dexx  wrote:   
      
   > Is it true that Huygens ceased transmission less than 2 hours after   
   > touchdown? Whilst it was a magnificent achievement to travel so far and   
   > land perfectly, it seems a great shame that the probe was so short   
   > lived.  I'm suprised the designers didnt make it rugged enough and   
   > powered enough to survive several days.   
   >   
      
   Even if it had more power the signal has to be relayed to   
   Cassini. Cassini kept it's focus on the Huygens probe for 2 hours   
   then turned toward earth to relay the temetry.   
   Form earth you could barely pick up the carrier signal.   
   Since Cassini continues on it's route through the saturnian system   
   you wouldn't be able to get a continuous transmission anyhow.   
   Besides the most important part of the mission was a spectral analysis   
   of Titan't atmosphere. The surface pictures were really just gravy.   
      
      
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