Cassini–Huygens

Artist's concept of Cassini's orbit insertion around Saturn
Mission type	Cassini: Saturn orbiter Huygens: Titan lander
Operator	Cassini: NASA / JPL Huygens: ESA / ASI
COSPAR ID	1997-061A
SATCAT no.	25008
Website	NASA ESA ASI
Mission duration	Overall:  19 years, 335 days  13 years, 76 days at Saturn En route:  6 years, 261 days Prime mission:  3 years Extended missions:  Equinox: 2 years, 62 days  Solstice: 6 years, 205 days  Finale: 4 months, 24 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Cassini: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Huygens: Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass	5,712 kg (12,593 lb)
Dry mass	2,523 kg (5,562 lb)
Power	~885 watts (BOL) ~670 watts (2010) ~663 watts (EOM/2017)
Start of mission
Launch date	October 15, 1997, 08:43:00 (1997-10-15UTC08:43) UTC
Rocket	Titan IV(401)B B-33
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-40
End of mission
Disposal	Controlled entry into Saturn
Last contact	September 15, 2017 11:55:39 UTC X-band telemetry 11:55:46 UTC S-band radio science
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Kronocentric
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach	April 26, 1998
Distance	283 km (176 mi)
Flyby of Venus (Gravity assist)
Closest approach	June 24, 1999
Distance	623 km (387 mi)
Flyby of Earth-Moon system (Gravity assist)
Closest approach	August 18, 1999, 03:28 UTC
Distance	1,171 km (728 mi)
Flyby of 2685 Masursky (Incidental)
Closest approach	January 23, 2000
Distance	1,600,000 km (990,000 mi)
Flyby of Jupiter (Gravity assist)
Closest approach	December 30, 2000
Distance	9,852,924 km (6,122,323 mi)
Saturn orbiter
Orbital insertion	July 1, 2004, 02:48 UTC
Titan lander
Spacecraft component	Huygens
Landing date	January 14, 2005
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Cassini–Huygens was a space mission, sent to Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun to study its rings, and its moons.

The mission was made by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Italian Space Agency (ASI). The spacecraft had two main parts: the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe. It was launched on October 15, 1997 and entered into orbit around Saturn on July 1, 2004. It was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn and the fourth to visit Saturn (the others were flybys and did not enter orbit). The mission ended September 2017.