Artist's impression of Huygens just before entry

Artist view of the Huygens probe approaching the upper layers of Titan's atmosphere at 22 000 kilometres per hour, slowing to about 1400 kilometres per hour in less than two minutes, thanks to the friction of the heatshield with the atmospheric gas.

The temperature of the gas in the shock wave in front of the heatshield may reach 12000°C, with the shield itself reaching 1800°C.