Instruments carried by Huygen

Along with the orbiter, Huygens probe carried an array of 6 instruments. These included the following;

•  Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI) - this instrument has sensors that will measure the electric and physical properties of the atmosphere of Saturn.

•  Doppler Wind Experiment (DWE)- this instrument will enable better communication with the probe as it will provide a stable frequency carrier. It will do so with the help of an ultra violet oscillator.

•  Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) - this instrument is designed to take numerous images and spectral observations with the help of sensors and field views.

•  Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS)- this instrument is a very useful gas chemical analyzer. It will identify and measure the chemicals on the surface of Titan.

•  Aerosol Collector and Pyrolyser (ACP)- This instrument will collect aerosol particles from the atmosphere through filters. It would then heat the collected samples in ovens to the vaporize volatiles and decompose the complex organic materials. The products will then be sent to the GCMS instrument through pipes, for analysis. There would be two filters that would collect samples at different altitudes.

•  Surface-Science Package (SSP)- this instrument consists of various sensors that would detect the different physical properties of the surface of Titan, whether it is liquid or solid.

To assist the instruments and telemeter data back to earth the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was equipped with subsystems. Let us see the functions of the various subsystems.