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Scientists are particularly interested in Saturn's moon Titan because it's one of the few known moons with its own dense atmosphere. Titan's atmosphere is also thought to be very similar to what Earth's atmosphere was a long time ago. By learning about Titan, we'll learn about our own planet.
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This site is no longer maintained. It contains historical data.

For current information about the NASA Astrobiology Program, please visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/


2001-09-27 | MISSIONS
Cassini-Huygens Checks Out Successfully

Using the Deep Space Network antennae in Goldstone, California, researchers with the European Space Agency (ESA) European Space Operations Centre and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory performed an in-flight systems check on NASA's Cassini spacecraft bound for Saturn. Cassini is now 1 billion kilometers from Earth and traveling at a relative speed 79200 km/h. The craft is scheduled to reach its destination in 2004. Cassini carries with it ESA's Huygens probe, which will be dropped onto Saturn's moon Titan to examine the composition of the atmosphere and surface. The organic compound methane has been detected in the Titan's atmosphere, and an ocean of liquid methane may cover part of the surface. Organics are the building blocks of life. Although it is currently believed that Titan is too cold to support life, by studying organic chemistry on Titan we may be able to learn something about the origins of life here on Earth.


More on this story Full text of original item from ESA, Sep 27, 2001

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Sep 17, 2002 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
One Small Step... but Only on a Hospitable Planet!
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Oct 22, 2001 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
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(NASA Astrobiology Institute) - Saturn’s giant moon Titan, cloaked in a thick nitrogen atmosphere laced with hydrocarbons, could provide a laboratory in the sky for scientists seeking insight into the origins of life.

Jun 22, 2001 | MISSIONS, TECHNOLOGIES
Cassini/Huygens Mission to Titan Changed to Save Data
(Space.com) - Engineers have devised a fix for an error that would have lost data from Saturn's moon.

Dec 22, 2000 | MISSIONS
Cassini probe snaps photos of Ganymede, Callisto and Europa
(NASA) - Passing by Jupiter, the Cassini spacecraft has returned new images of the giant planet 's largest moons. Three of them may harbor oceans of water.

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NASA's Galileo celebrates five years orbiting Jupiter
(NASA) - In its years of service, Galileo has provided evidence of liquid water on Europa and Callisto.


The preceding news links are provided as a public service for interested users. The views and claims expressed in external internet sites are not necessarily those of NASA.

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NASA Official: Lynn J. Rothschild
Last Updated: November 13, 2007
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