Huygens approaches Titan

ESA's Huygens was the first spacecraft to land on a world in the outer Solar System. In January 2005, it landed on the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, and the only moon in the Solar System to possess a thick atmosphere.

The gold-coloured foil blanket helped to control the probe's temperature during the interplanetary cruise phase. The heat-resistant tiles covering the front shield are hidden underneath the foil and provided protection against the very high temperatures that are generated during the entry into Titan's atmosphere.