NASA extends Cassini mission
Posted: Thu, Feb 4, 2010, 6:19 AM ET (1119 GMT)
The Cassini spacecraft will continue its studies of Saturn and its moons through 2017 under a mission extension NASA announced Wednesday. Cassini, launched in 1997, has been in orbit around Saturn since 2004 and already received one extension after the end of its four-year primary mission. The "Cassini Solstice Mission" will allow the spacecraft to study the planet to the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The mission plan also includes 54 flybys of Titan, the planet's largest moon, and 11 of the icy moon Enceladus. The mission extension will end with the spacecraft plunging into Saturn itself to avoid the potential of colliding with and contaminating Enceladus, which may have liquid water oceans beneath its surface.
The Cassini spacecraft will continue its studies of Saturn and its moons through 2017 under a mission extension NASA announced Wednesday. Cassini, launched in 1997, has been in orbit around Saturn since 2004 and already received one extension after the end of its four-year primary mission. The "Cassini Solstice Mission" will allow the spacecraft to study the planet to the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The mission plan also includes 54 flybys of Titan, the planet's largest moon, and 11 of the icy moon Enceladus. The mission extension will end with the spacecraft plunging into Saturn itself to avoid the potential of colliding with and contaminating Enceladus, which may have liquid water oceans beneath its surface.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Vast signs contract with SpaceX for ISS private astronaut missions
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT) Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, December 27
Space industrial base racing to meet growing demand for military satellites
Defensescoop — 7:42 am ET (1242 GMT) Satellite bailout leaves Britain nursing losses as shares plunge to record low
The Daily Telegraph — 7:41 am ET (1241 GMT) SpaceX will be a better $1 trln bet than Tesla
Reuters — 7:36 am ET (1236 GMT) From new commercial Moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025
The Conversation — 7:35 am ET (1235 GMT) A Silk Road in Space: China’s Space Plan for 2050
The Wire — 7:34 am ET (1234 GMT) |
