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Cassini-Huygens is a joint NASA/ ESA unmanned space mission intended to study Saturn and its moons. The spacecraft consists of two main elements: the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe. It was launched on October 15, 1997 and entered Saturn's orbit on July 1, 2004. It is the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn and just the fourth spacecraft to visit Saturn.

1 Overview


Cassini's principal objectives are to:

  1. Determine the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the rings
  2. Determine the composition of the satellite surfaces and the geological history of each object
  3. Determine the nature and origin of the dark material on Iapetus's leading hemisphere
  4. Measure the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the magnetosphere
  5. Study the dynamic behavior of Saturn's atmosphere at cloud level
  6. Study the time variability of Titan's clouds and hazes
  7. Characterize Titan's surface on a regional scale

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was launched on October 15, 1997 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 40 using a U.S. Air Force Titan IVB/ Centaur launch vehicle. The launch vehicle was made up of a two-stage Titan IV booster rocket, two strap-on solid rocket motors, the Centaur upper stage, and a payload enclosure or fairing. The complete Cassini flight system was composed of the launch vehicle and the spacecraft.

The spacecraft is composed of the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe. The Cassini orbiter is planned to orbit Saturn and its moons for four years, and the plan sees the Huygens probe dive into the atmosphere of Titan and land on its surface. Cassini-Huygens is an international collaboration between three space agencies. Seventeen nations contributed to building the spacecraft. The Cassini orbiter was built and managed by NASA/ CalTechCalifornia Institute of Technology MottoThe truth shall make you free Established 1891 School type Private President David Baltimore Location Pasadena, CA, USA Enrollment 900 undergraduate,1,200 graduate Faculty 386 Endowment US$1. 3 billion Campus Urban,'s Jet Propulsion LaboratoryThe Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Pasadena, California builds and operates unmanned spacecraft for NASA. JPL-run projects include the Galileo Jupiter mission and the Mars rovers, including the 1997 Mars Pathfinder and the twin 2003 Mars Exp. The Huygens probe was built by the European Space Agency. The Italian Space AgencyThe Italian Space Agency L'Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI was founded in 1988 to promote, co-ordinate and conduct space activities in Italy. Operating under the Ministry of the Universities and of Scientific and Technological Research, the Agency cooper provided Cassini's high-gain communication antenna.

The total cost of the Cassini-Huygens mission is about US$The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. It is also widely used as a reserve currency outside of the United States. Currently, the issuance of currency is controlled by the Federal Reserve Banking system. The most commonly u3.26 billion, including $1.4 billion for pre-launch development, $704 million for mission operations, $54 million for tracking and $422 million for the launch vehicle. The U.S. contributed $2.6 billion, the European Space Agency $500 million and the Italian Space Agency $160 million.

A list of Cassini-Huygens abbreviationsBelow are abbreviations commonly used in conjunction with the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. AACS Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem ACP Aerosol Collector and Pyrolyzer (Huygens instrument) ACS Attitude Control Subsystem AFC AACS Flight Compu is available.



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