What was the purpose of the Cassini-Huygens mission?

The objectives of the Cassini-Huygens mission are to analyze the composition and atmosphere of Saturn, investigate Saturn’s rings and several of its moons, and study the planet’s magnetosphere – the region of space that’s influenced by Saturn’s magnetic field.

What was Cassini’s last message?

Cassini’s last message to Earth will be an echo from a dead spacecraft.

What did Cassini-Huygens achieve?

The Cassini spacecraft orbited Saturn from June 30, 2004, until Sept. 15, 2017, when the probe ended its life with a plunge into the ringed planet’s atmosphere. The mission is known for discoveries such as finding jets of water erupting from Enceladus, and tracking down a few new moons for Saturn.

What did the Cassini space probe discover?

The spacecraft discovered propeller-like formations, witnessed the possible birth of a new moon and observed what may be one of the most active, chaotic rings in our solar system (Saturn’s F ring). Also see: NASA Cassini Images May Reveal Birth of a Saturn Moon – April 14, 2014.

How long did Huygens last on Titan?

2.5 hours
The main mission phase was a parachute descent through Titan’s atmosphere. The batteries and all other resources were sized for a Huygens mission duration of 153 minutes, corresponding to a maximum descent time of 2.5 hours plus at least 3 additional minutes (and possibly a half-hour or more) on Titan’s surface.

What happened to Cassini Huygens?

On Sept. 15, 2017, the spacecraft made its final approach to the giant planet Saturn. This time, Cassini dived into the planet’s atmosphere, sending science data for as long as its small thrusters could keep the spacecraft’s antenna pointed at Earth. Soon after, Cassini burned up and disintegrated like a meteor.

Why did Cassini burn up?

Having expended almost every bit of the rocket propellant it carried to Saturn, operators deliberately plunged Cassini into the planet to ensure Saturn’s moons remain pristine for future exploration—in particular, the ice-covered, ocean-bearing moon Enceladus, but also Titan, with its intriguing pre-biotic chemistry.

What happened to Cassini at the end of its mission?

Cassini survived for a total of 91 seconds in Saturn’s dense atmosphere, before tipping over backward during its last eight seconds and finally losing radio contact with Earth. The mission was over, as the probe succumbed to the increasing heat and pressure.

Does life exist on Saturn?

Saturn cannot support life as we know it, but some of Saturn’s moons have conditions that might support life.

Is Titan bigger than Earth?

Titan is the second largest moon in our solar system. Titan is bigger than Earth’s moon, and larger than even the planet Mercury.

When did the Cassini and Huygens mission start?

A joint endeavor of NASA, the European Space Agency, or ESA, and the Italian Space Agency, Cassini launched in 1997 along with ESA’s Huygens probe. The spacecraft contributed to studies of Jupiter for six months in 2000 before reaching its destination, Saturn, in 2004 and starting a string of flybys of Saturn’s moons.

Where did the Huygens probe land on Saturn?

The Cassini spacecraft releases the European Space Agency-built Huygens probe at Saturn’s moon Titan. The Huygens probe makes its descent through Titan’s atmosphere to sample the chemical composition and surface properties of the Saturnian moon.

What did Cassini look at on May 28, 2017?

Cassini obtained the images in this mosaic on May 28, 2017, looking over the horizon just after its sixth pass through the gap between Saturn and its rings as part of the mission’s Grand Finale. This view of Saturn looks toward the planet’s night side, lit by sunlight reflected from the rings.

What was the purpose of the Huygens mission?

The Huygens probe makes its descent through Titan’s atmosphere to sample the chemical composition and surface properties of the Saturnian moon. Cassini completes its primary mission to explore the Saturn system and begins its mission extension (Cassini Equinox Mission).