A full-scale model of Huygens landed in Paris

The full-scale engineering model of ESA’s Huygens probe is on display on the recreated surface of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, in front of the Paris Town Hall, for Europe Day celebrations, on May 9, 2007. During preparation for the Huygens mission, this model was actually dropped by a stratospheric balloon from an altitude of 38 km in order to test and validate the probe’s descent sequence.

In the background, Huygens mission manager Jean-Pierre Lebreton, from ESA, discusses this technological and scientific achievement with young visitors.