Saturn constellation1

Cassini Huygens Mission to Saturn

  • Launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

    Launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
    Launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
  • Period: to

    Saturn mission

  • The spacecraft passes Venus for the first time.

    The spacecraft passes Venus for the first time.
    The spacecraft passes Venus for the first time.
  • It travels past Venus again.

    It travels past Venus again.
  • It passes Earth for the first time.

    It passes Earth for the first time.
  • Starts a 6 month orbit and study of Jupiter.

    Starts a 6 month orbit and study of Jupiter.
  • Cassini arrives at Saturn and begins to pass Titan and other moons.

    Cassini arrives at Saturn and begins to pass Titan and other moons.
  • The Huygens probe is released on to Titan.

    The Huygens probe is released on to Titan.
  • Titan is revealed to be very similar to Earth in terms of structure.

    Titan is revealed to be very similar to Earth in terms of structure.
  • Lakes are found on the surface of Titan.

    Lakes are found on the surface of Titan.
  • More lightly coloured rings are discovered when Saturn is backlit by the Sun.

    More lightly coloured rings are discovered when Saturn is backlit by the Sun.
  • The original mission is finished, so an extension mission is launched.

  • It is proven that there is hydrocarbon in the water on Titan.

    It is proven that there is hydrocarbon in the water on Titan.
  • The extension mission is completed, so 2nd extension mission begins.

  • A huge storm approaches the northern region of Saturn, this later becomes the largest and most visible one seen on Saturn.

    A huge storm approaches the northern region of Saturn, this later becomes the largest and most visible one seen on Saturn.
  • A vortex (as in a whirling mass of air) is predicted to be forming in the South pole of Titan.

    A vortex (as in a whirling mass of air) is predicted to be forming in the South pole of Titan.
  • Hopeful completion of the 2nd extension mission.

    Hopeful completion of the 2nd extension mission.
  • The Cassini Huygens shuttle is predicted to start to orbit the outermost rings of Saturn.

    The Cassini Huygens shuttle is predicted to start to orbit the outermost rings of Saturn.
  • The shuttle is predicted to start to orbit around the closer rings to Saturn.

    The shuttle is predicted to start to orbit around the closer rings to Saturn.