THE HEINLEIN PRIZE TRUST CONGRATULATES THE CASSINI-HUYGENS MISSION TEAM !

The Trustees of the Robert A. and Virginia Heinlein Prize Trust congratulate the European Space Agency, NASA, JPL, and the Italian space agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, for their successful landing of the Huygens probe on the surface of Titan!

The ambitious Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn is a joint endeavor of the European Space Agency, NASA and the Italian space agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, sending a sophisticated robotic spacecraft to orbit the ringed planet and study the Saturnian system in detail over a four-year period. Launched seven years ago, Cassini’s four-year prime mission will last until 1 July 2008.

The Huygens probe entered the atmosphere of Titan January 14, landing safely on the surface. Huygens sent hours of data to the Cassini orbiter, which relayed the information to Earth. The first scientific data arrived at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany at 17:19 CET. Titan is the largest moon of Saturn, and the second largest moon in the Solar System, with a thick nitrogen-atmosphere rich in organic compounds, like Earth’s own. Little, however, has been known of surface conditions.

Both the Heinlein Prize Trust and the Cassini-Huygens’ mission teams share the optimistic view that the future of the human race lies in space, and in space exploration. The Heinlein Prize Trust hopes this exciting success in space exploration and information advancement will help forward the shared dream of a future of humankind expanding ever outward into space. Robert A. Heinlein is quoted in 1972 as saying, “We are at a cusp, a decision point. We can decide to go one way, to the stars, and enjoy unlimited opportunities, unimagined possibilities, endless evolution, and eternal racial life. Or we can refuse the challenge, stay where we are--and die.” The Heinlein Prize Trust is focused on practical, private commercial advancements that produce substantive results in the area of space enterprise. Future Heinlein Prize Trust winners may, or may not, be dealing directly with space flight advances.

The Heinlein Prize honors the memory of Robert A. Heinlein, a renowned American author. Both Robert and his wife Virginia were strong advocates of human advancement into space through commercial endeavors. The purpose of the Heinlein Prize is to encourage and reward progress in commercial space activities that advances their dream of humanity's future in space.

The Heinlein Prize Trust will present a substantial award to the individual or individuals who achieve practical accomplishments in the field of commercial space activities.

Winners will receive a medallion, a diploma and a monetary award. The first Heinlein Prize award has been set by the Trustees at $500,000.

The Heinlein Prize is worldwide.

The Trust has three Trustees: Art Dula, Buckner Hightower and James M. Vaughn.