Huygens entry emission: Observation campaign, results, and lessons learned

Abstract

An attempt was made to observe from Earth the emission from the shock layer and "meteor trail" formed during the Huygens probe's hypersonic entry into Titan's atmosphere. Although many observations were wiped out by weather or in-orbit failure, two observations constrain the emission from the entry. Several important lessons for future observations of spacecraft and other entries can be drawn. Copyright 2006 by the American Geophysical Union.