Good News from Saturn

The European Space Agency has announced that the Huygens probe has passed its second to last in-flight checkout, in preparation for deployment to Titan in December. The critical Mission Timer Unit is in good health, a must given the fact that Huygens will coast for several weeks after being released by the Cassini Saturn orbiter. The MTU will be charged with waking Huygens up just before entry into Titan’s atmosphere. ESA’s coverage is here.