Home
Cassini craft
Huygens
Titan Facts
Saturn Facts
Mission Detail
Launch
News
Links
RAL Planets
Planetary Forum
Home
Cassini craft
Huygens
Titan Facts
Saturn Facts
Mission Detail
Launch
News
Links
RAL Planets
Planetary Forum
Surface Science Package (SSP) |
 |
 |
SSP will determine the physical and chemical nature of Titan's surface.
HOW: A suite of eight sensors will make in-situ measurements of the thermal, electrical, acoustic and optical properties of Titan's surface. Sensors will also determine the rate at which the probe decelerates on impact, giving information on the strength and other physical characteristics of the surface. A tilt sensor will provide information on any waves following a liquid impact.
Some RAL activities on SSP:
 |
Top-hat' Sensor Assembly Top is hard-mounted to probe's instrument platform Sensor volume must fill with liquid on landing Bottom is connected to fore-dome by bellows to preserve seal on impact. Structure to be as light as possible |
 |
Thermal Characteristics Probe interior -10 to +20 degC Outside temperature -180 degC Heat leak must be minimised! Insulation materials must depressurise on launch and re-pressurise at Titan. |
 |
Electronics System Features Hot-redundant power supplies Redundant data streams 30 seconds delay between them gives uninterrupted data at surface impact. Multiplicity of sensors required innovative design of signal conditioning and processing chain. |
PI: J C Zarnecki
INSTITUTION: Open University
|
COLLABORATORS |
INSTITUTION |
COUNTRY |
ROLE |
|
S.F. Green |
Open University |
UK |
Data Analysis |
|
J.A.M. McDonnell |
Open University |
UK |
Data Analysis |
|
J. Delderfield |
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
UK |
Sensor Development |
|
A.M. Cruise |
University of Birmingham |
UK |
Data Analysis |
|
P. Challenor |
Institute of Ocean Science |
UK |
Ocean Modelling |
|
J.E. Geake (now deceased) |
UMIST |
UK |
Sensor Development |
|
Hakron Svedham |
ESA SSD, ESTEC |
NL |
Sensor Development |
|
Others from: |
ESA SSD ESTEC |
NL |
Data Analysis |
|
... |
SRC, Warsaw |
Poland |
Sensor Development |
|
... |
University Of Paris |
France |
Data Analyis |
|
... |
MMDA, Denver |
USA |
Data Analysis |
|
... |
University of Arizona |
USA |
Data Analysis |
|
... |
University of Arizona |
USA |
Data Analysis |
UK COST: £2,747K
CONTACT FOR PRESS ENQUIRIES: Prof J.C. Zarnecki - 01908 659599
| Prof. Manuel Grande |