THE HUYGENS MISSION OPTIMIZATION

The ESA Huygens probe is due for launch as part of the NASA/ESA Cassin i mission in 1997, to arrive at Titan in late 2004, and will make a 2- 2.5 h exploratory descent to the surface. Huygens is designed to enter and,brake in Titan's atmosphere in order to parachute a fully-instrum ented robotic laboratory. The main scientific measurements will take p lace during that parachute descent, but some will also be performed du ring the atmospheric entry and the probe resources are sized to allow measurements after it has impacted Titan's surface for at least a few minutes. This paper describes the optimization process which has been implemented,to build that mission, taking into account the scientific requirements and the environmental and technical constraints imposed o n both Cassini orbiter and Huygens probe.