UK holds its breath as Huygens phones home

As the Huygens space probe completes it difficult and dangerous mission through the clouds of Titan, several British companies are waiting anxiously to see if their work has paid off.

Almost every part of the Cassini-Huygens probe has some British involvement. LogicaCMG has produced the flight software that is guiding the probe and controlling its speed, while Meggitt Aerospace built the titanium hoses that act as fuel lines for the probe.

"Cassini-Huygens has already made some ground-breaking discoveries," said Science Minister Lord Sainsbury.

"Once again the UK is at the forefront of innovation and technology. This is another important step towards making our nation the most developed user of space-based technology in Europe."

The first data is expected to finish its two billion mile trip home later today, where 17 radio telescopes are waiting to pick it up.

Imperial and Leicester universities were involved in building the experimental devices that will scan the air and surface of Saturn's largest moon.

Financial support has also flowed from Britain. The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council has contributed £13.5m to the Cassini-Huygens mission, £7.7m towards instruments and £5.8m towards operations.

Provided it works, some of the same technology used in the probe will be used in building Europe's Galileo global positioning system.