Cassini

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Cassini–Huygens
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The Cassini–Huygens (/ˌkəˈsini ˈhɔɪˌɡəns/) (commonly called Cassini) mission was a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to send a probe to study the planet Saturn and its system, including its rings and natural satellites. The Flagship-class unmanned robotic spacecraft comprised both NASA's Cassini probe, and ESA's Huygens lander which would be landed on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.[7] Cassini was the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter its orbit. The craft were named after astronomers Giovanni Cassini and Christiaan Huygens.
Cassini–Huygens

Artist's concept of Cassini's orbit insertion around Saturn
Mission type Cassini: Saturn orbiter
Huygens: Titan lander
Operator Cassini: NASA / JPL
Huygens: ESA / ASI
COSPAR ID 1997-061A
SATCAT no. 25008
Website
NASA
ESA
ASI
Mission duration
Final:
19 years, 335 days
13 years, 76 days at Saturn
En route:
6 years, 261 days
Prime mission:
3 years
Extended missions:
Equinox: 2 years, 62 days
Solstice: 6 years, 205 days
Finale: 4 months, 24 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Cassini: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Huygens: Alcatel Alenia Space
Launch mass 5,712 kg (12,593 lb)[1][2]
Dry mass 2,523 kg (5,562 lb)[1]
Power ~885 watts (BOL)[1]
~670 watts (2010)[3]
~663 watts (EOM/2017)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date October 15, 1997, 08:43:00 UTC
Rocket Titan IV(401)B B-33
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-40
End of mission
Disposal Controlled entry into Saturn[4][5]
Last contact
September 15, 2017
11:55:39 UTC X-band telemetry
11:55:46 UTC S-band radio science[6]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Kronocentric
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach April 26, 1998
Distance 283 km (176 mi)
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach June 24, 1999
Distance 6,052 km (3,761 mi)
Flyby of Earth-Moon system (Gravity assist)
Closest approach August 18, 1999, 03:28 UTC
Distance 1,171 km (728 mi)
Flyby of 2685 Masursky (Incidental)
Closest approach January 23, 2000
Distance 1,600,000 km (990,000 mi)
Flyby of Jupiter (Gravity assist)
Closest approach December 30, 2000
Distance 9,852,924 km (6,122,323 mi)
Saturn orbiter
Orbital insertion July 1, 2004, 02:48 UTC
Titan lander
Spacecraft component Huygens
Landing date January 14, 2005
Flagship Program
← GalileoMars Science Laboratory →
Launched aboard a Titan IVB/Centaur on October 15, 1997, Cassini was active in space for more than 19 years, with 13 years spent orbiting Saturn, studying the planet and its system after entering orbit on July 1, 2004.[8] The voyage to Saturn included flybys of Venus (April 1998 and July 1999), Earth (August 1999), the asteroid 2685 Masursky, and Jupiter (December 2000). Its mission ended on September 15, 2017, when Cassini was commanded to fly into Saturn's upper atmosphere and burn up[9][10] in order to prevent any risk of contaminating Saturn's moons, some with enviroments potentially bearing life, with stowaway terrestrial microbes.[11][12] (At that point Cassini lacked sufficient impulse to leave the Saturn system, so it could only be left in orbit, where it might collide with a moon, or be destroyed.) The mission is widely perceived to have been successful beyond expectation. Cassini-Huygens has been described by NASA's Planetary Science Division Director as a "mission of firsts",[13] that has revolutionized human understanding of the Saturn system, including its moons and rings, and our understanding of where life might be found in the Solar System.
Cassini's original mission was planned to last for four years, from June 2004 to May 2008. The mission was extended for another two years until September 2010, branded the Cassini Equinox Mission. The mission was extended a second and final time with the Cassini Solstice Mission, lasting another seven years until September 15, 2017, on which date Cassini was de-orbited by being allowed to burn up in Saturn's upper atmosphere.
The Huygens module traveled with Cassini until its separation from the probe on December 25, 2004; it was successfully landed by parachute on Titan on January 14, 2005. It successfully returned data to Earth for around 90 minutes, using the orbiter as a relay. This was the first landing ever accomplished in the outer Solar System and the first landing on a moon other than our own. Cassini continued to study the Saturn system in the following years.
At the end of its mission, the Cassini spacecraft executed the "Grand Finale" of its mission: a number of risky passes through the gaps between Saturn and Saturn's inner rings.[4][5] The purpose of this phase was to maximize Cassini's scientific outcome before the spacecraft was destroyed.[14] The atmospheric entry of Cassini effectively ended the mission, although data analysis and production will continue afterwards.
Overview
Naming
Objectives
History
Spacecraft design
Instruments
Plutonium power source
Telemetry
Huygens probe
Selected events and discoveries
Grand Finale and destruction
Glossary
See also
References
Further reading
External links
Last edited 2 hours ago by Chrisrabaya

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.
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Wiki Loves Monuments: Photograph a monument, help Wikipedia and win!
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Cassini–Huygens
Page issues
The Cassini–Huygens (/ˌkəˈsini ˈhɔɪˌɡəns/) (commonly called Cassini) mission was a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to send a probe to study the planet Saturn and its system, including its rings and natural satellites. The Flagship-class unmanned robotic spacecraft comprised both NASA's Cassini probe, and ESA's Huygens lander which would be landed on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.[7] Cassini was the fourth space probe to visit Saturn and the first to enter its orbit. The craft were named after astronomers Giovanni Cassini and Christiaan Huygens.
Cassini–Huygens

Artist's concept of Cassini's orbit insertion around Saturn
Mission type Cassini: Saturn orbiter
Huygens: Titan lander
Operator Cassini: NASA / JPL
Huygens: ESA / ASI
COSPAR ID 1997-061A
SATCAT no. 25008
Website
NASA
ESA
ASI
Mission duration
Final:
19 years, 335 days
13 years, 76 days at Saturn
En route:
6 years, 261 days
Prime mission:
3 years
Extended missions:
Equinox: 2 years, 62 days
Solstice: 6 years, 205 days
Finale: 4 months, 24 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Cassini: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Huygens: Alcatel Alenia Space
Launch mass 5,712 kg (12,593 lb)[1][2]
Dry mass 2,523 kg (5,562 lb)[1]
Power ~885 watts (BOL)[1]
~670 watts (2010)[3]
~663 watts (EOM/2017)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date October 15, 1997, 08:43:00 UTC
Rocket Titan IV(401)B B-33
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-40
End of mission
Disposal Controlled entry into Saturn[4][5]
Last contact
September 15, 2017
11:55:39 UTC X-band telemetry
11:55:46 UTC S-band radio science[6]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Kronocentric
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach April 26, 1998
Distance 283 km (176 mi)
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach June 24, 1999
Distance 6,052 km (3,761 mi)
Flyby of Earth-Moon system (Gravity assist)
Closest approach August 18, 1999, 03:28 UTC
Distance 1,171 km (728 mi)
Flyby of 2685 Masursky (Incidental)
Closest approach January 23, 2000
Distance 1,600,000 km (990,000 mi)
Flyby of Jupiter (Gravity assist)
Closest approach December 30, 2000
Distance 9,852,924 km (6,122,323 mi)
Saturn orbiter
Orbital insertion July 1, 2004, 02:48 UTC
Titan lander
Spacecraft component Huygens
Landing date January 14, 2005
Flagship Program
← GalileoMars Science Laboratory →
Launched aboard a Titan IVB/Centaur on October 15, 1997, Cassini was active in space for more than 19 years, with 13 years spent orbiting Saturn, studying the planet and its system after entering orbit on July 1, 2004.[8] The voyage to Saturn included flybys of Venus (April 1998 and July 1999), Earth (August 1999), the asteroid 2685 Masursky, and Jupiter (December 2000). Its mission ended on September 15, 2017, when Cassini was commanded to fly into Saturn's upper atmosphere and burn up[9][10] in order to prevent any risk of contaminating Saturn's moons, some with enviroments potentially bearing life, with stowaway terrestrial microbes.[11][12] (At that point Cassini lacked sufficient impulse to leave the Saturn system, so it could only be left in orbit, where it might collide with a moon, or be destroyed.) The mission is widely perceived to have been successful beyond expectation. Cassini-Huygens has been described by NASA's Planetary Science Division Director as a "mission of firsts",[13] that has revolutionized human understanding of the Saturn system, including its moons and rings, and our understanding of where life might be found in the Solar System.
Cassini's original mission was planned to last for four years, from June 2004 to May 2008. The mission was extended for another two years until September 2010, branded the Cassini Equinox Mission. The mission was extended a second and final time with the Cassini Solstice Mission, lasting another seven years until September 15, 2017, on which date Cassini was de-orbited by being allowed to burn up in Saturn's upper atmosphere.
The Huygens module traveled with Cassini until its separation from the probe on December 25, 2004; it was successfully landed by parachute on Titan on January 14, 2005. It successfully returned data to Earth for around 90 minutes, using the orbiter as a relay. This was the first landing ever accomplished in the outer Solar System and the first landing on a moon other than our own. Cassini continued to study the Saturn system in the following years.
At the end of its mission, the Cassini spacecraft executed the "Grand Finale" of its mission: a number of risky passes through the gaps between Saturn and Saturn's inner rings.[4][5] The purpose of this phase was to maximize Cassini's scientific outcome before the spacecraft was destroyed.[14] The atmospheric entry of Cassini effectively ended the mission, although data analysis and production will continue afterwards.
Overview
Naming
Objectives
History
Spacecraft design
Instruments
Plutonium power source
Telemetry
Huygens probe
Selected events and discoveries
Grand Finale and destruction
Glossary
See also
References
Further reading
External links
Last edited 2 hours ago by Chrisrabaya

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.
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