Destination Titan (2011 TV Movie) User Reviews

This documentary was an out of this world, interesting & unique. It was worth exploring for the most part.

[ironhorse_iv · 8/10 · 15 June 2017]

In a flawless, triumphant technological titanic tour de force, a plutonium-powered unmanned spacecraft called Cassini–Huygens, not only orbit around Saturn's largest moon, Titan, but also landed there in 2005. Thus, becoming the first landing of a spacecraft ever accomplished in the outer Solar System. This documentary serves to tell the story on how it got there. Without spoiling the film, too much, I have to say, while, 'Destination Titan' does tells the fascinating story of professor/scientist, John Zarnecki's personal space odyssey to land the Huygens probe on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The film, sadly, isn't destined to stand out, much, compare to more interesting space odyssey documentary films out there. The reasons, why, are very clear. First off, landing on Titan, doesn't have the same level of grandeur, like the Moon or Mars. It's barely talk about in, basic astronomy. Even with the internet information age, Titan just isn't popular, as the other two, because of the large distance from Earth, and how little, is known about Titan. Also, in the terms of most famous Natural satellites known to man, it's far from the being, the most well-known. That honor goes to Jupiter's moon, Europa, who recently, gain attention in the mainstream news, for its apparent youthful icy photos of its surface that might harbor extraterrestrial life, despite Titan having clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid being found as well. Because of this narrow thinking, some scientists, hypothesis that only in Europa that life can be possible, despite no spacecraft ever yet landed on that moon. In truth, while the atmosphere of Titan is largely nitrogen, the moon is a prebiotic environment rich in complex organic chemistry that future life could happen, regardless of the large amount of methane & ethane gases. With due respect, to the scientific circle, I believe Titan should get more focus on it. Another thing, I love, about this documentary is the backstory of how the craft, Huygens was made. Yet, I also, wish the movie explore more, in detail, how the European Space Agency (ESA) came to be. Before, this movie, I barely heard of it. Instead, the movie disturbing focus, way too much of the achievements of the Soviet Space Program. It even pan too long on, the main scientist, visiting Karl Marx's grave in Highgate Cemetery, giving off, a bad vibe that this film is pro-communism. I know, that, might sounds silly, seeing how John Zarnecki practice capitalism tactics, since then, to get his project done, like managing to persuade a group of scientists in Poland to provide part of the instrumentation for free, while also using students as cheap labor, but still, there is a little doubt, hanging in the air, because the way, the film is structure. It would be better, if the movie focus more on the modern achievements of every country, involved in this project rather than focusing, too much on the past achievements of a defunct nation. After all, it seems odd, that the film, rarely talk about how Italian Space Agency (ASI) help funded it and made parts for it, and how a French company, call 'Aérospatiale' assembled the probe with equipment and instruments supplied by many European countries, and how NASA assembled it, and delivered it to Titan, with its rockets. I didn't like, how the film made it, seem like the craft was all, made from Englishmen like John Zarnecki and his crew; like they deserved all the praise. Because in truth, a lot of different agencies from all seventeen countries, made Cassini-Huygens come to life. They all, deserve some of the credit. My hats off to everyone who worked on it, even if they risk accidentally releasing plutonium dioxide in astrosphere, during the launch in 1997. At least, there wasn't any mishaps. Talk about a disaster being avoidance. Overall: I have to say, this BBC TV Special was very fascinating. It brought a lot of new information to the table that I haven't yet, heard of and cleared up some of my misconceptions about the mission. And to think, we are barely scratching the cosmic surface and with Titan. In the end, this British documentary special is a must watch for anybody interested in the field of astronomy or anybody just looking for something sophistical to watch. I can highly recommended, seeing this documentary. Its star worthy.