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Cassini-Huygens spacecraft at the doorstep of Saturn

A spacecraft jointly developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is due to arrive at Saturn on 1 July. Known as Cassini-Huygens, the spacecraft is carrying 18 instruments, 12 of...

A spacecraft jointly developed by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is due to arrive at Saturn on 1 July. Known as Cassini-Huygens, the spacecraft is carrying 18 instruments, 12 of which will be used to study the planet, rings and moons in extensive detail. The other six, developed by the ESA, will be used to investigate Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Titan is the only moon in the solar system to have a dense atmosphere and resembles the early Earth in deep freeze. The spacecraft will approach Saturn from below the ring plane, and will cross through the large gap between the F Ring and G Ring. The craft's main engine will fire shortly after passing through the rings in order to slow it down enough to be captured by Saturn's gravity. The tour of Saturn will last four years, but the craft's closest approach to Saturn will take place on 1 July. At this time, the craft will be around 18,000 kilometres from Saturn, which is less than a sixth of the planet's diameter.

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