CASSINI'S EXTENDED MISSION

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.6.12

Author

Mr. David Seal, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States

Year

2008

Abstract

Based on the overwhelming success of Cassini's four-year tour of Saturn, from June 2004 to June 2008, NASA Headquarters approved at least two years of extended mission for continued study of the target-rich Saturnian system. After a rigorous phase of science objective definition and trajectory analysis, the Cassini project has designed a scientifically intense and operationally challenging mission phase, including twenty-six close Titan flybys, nine icy satellite flybys - including seven more flybys of Enceladus - and sixty orbits about Saturn. The two-year extended mission should end with substantial propellant margin, and research into further extensions, with some fascinating new possibilities, has already begun.

Substantive technical and programmatic content is included. This material is new and has not been presented elsewhere in this form.

This presentation is intended to complement and expand upon the presentation requested by the Cassini project manager Robert Mitchell. Mr. Seal reports directly to Mitchell, and if this submission is approved, the presentations will be carefully coordinated.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.6.12.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A3.6.12.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.