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In-Flight Performance of the HASI Accelerometer and Implications for Results at Titan

J.C. Zarnecki ⁽¹⁾, F. Ferri^(1,2), B. Hathi, M.R. Leese, A.J. Ball⁽¹⁾, G. Colombatti⁽²⁾, M. Fulchignoni⁽³⁾

(1) PSSRI - Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom
(2) CISAS "G.Colombo" - Università di Padova, Via Venezia, 1 35131 Padova, Italy
(3) Universite Paris 7 - LESIA, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92190 Meudon, France

email: j.c.zarnecki@open.ac.uk

The Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI) includes a high sensitive servo accelerometer to sense deceleration of the probe in the direction of the probe trajectory. These data will be used to determine the atmospheric density profile in the upper reaches of the atmosphere where it is least well constrained. Results will be presented of the performance of this sub-system during the in-flight checkouts performed to date. In particular, the noise performance will be assessed. This is especially important as it limits the resolution and therefore performance of the sensor at the very top of Titan's atmosphere. Implication for the results expected at Titan will be presented.