Bistatic observations of Titan's surface with the Huygens probe radio signal

Huygens provided an unanticipated bistatic radio scattering experiment from Titan's surface. After a successful entry and descent on Titan, on 14 January 2005, the probe remarkably survived the landing and continued radioing from the surface to the overflying Cassini, until the orbiter set belo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets 2006-07, Vol.111 (E7), p.n/a
Main Authors: Pérez-Ayúcar, M., Lorenz, R. D., Floury, N., Prieto-Cerdeira, R., Lebreton, J.-P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Huygens radio signal interference
surface
Titan
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Summary:Huygens provided an unanticipated bistatic radio scattering experiment from Titan's surface. After a successful entry and descent on Titan, on 14 January 2005, the probe remarkably survived the landing and continued radioing from the surface to the overflying Cassini, until the orbiter set below Titan's local horizon. Here we report high‐quality measurements of the 2098 MHz (14.3 cm) postlanding radio signal, focusing on the striking variations observed in signal strength. The mechanism that creates this fading pattern is physically interpreted as multipath interference between the direct signal and the signal reflected on Titan's surface. The geophysical aspects that could bear on the signal analysis are described.
ISSN:0148-0227
2156-2202
DOI:10.1029/2005JE002613