Cassini dips into the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, allowing scientists their first close look at the unique body. Titan is the only known moon in the solar system to have an atmosphere, and scientists believe it may be similar to that which existed on Earth before life formed. The first radar images of Titan show a very complex geological surface that may be relatively young.

Cassini's Huygens probe will be released on Christmas Eve 2004 for a 22-day coast into Titan's atmosphere and down to its surface. In January 2005, three sets of parachutes will slow the probe enough so that it can do experiments from the surface. The 703-pound craft is a fully operational laboratory.