NASA Considering Extending Cassini Mission Through 2010

Published: Dec 28, 2005
Source: www.aviationweek.com



NASA is considering a two-year extension to the Cassini mission that would extend the probe's exploration of Saturn and its moons through 2010.

"NASA has given us some additional funding to study what the options would be" for the extra two years, said Bob Mitchell, Cassini program manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "About a year from now, I'm expecting that NASA will give us an [answer] one way or the other."

Cassini's baseline four-year tour began with its arrival at Saturn in June 2004. Launched in 1997, the $3 billion mission is the most sophisticated spacecraft launched to the outer planets.continue..