Scientists and flight controllers of the Cassini mission expect that four years will not be long enough to satisfy their curiosity about Saturn and environs. If they come upon a surprising discovery that cries out for further investigation, they would probably have to wait to pursue that quest after the prime four-year mission is over, said Mitchell, the project manager.
Space craft facts:
* The 'Cassini-Huygens' probe was launched Oct. 15, 1997 and is to start orbiting Saturn on June 30.
* Cassini-Huygens is a US$3 billion joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency. NASA built 'Cassini,' ESA built `Huygens.'
* `Cassini-Huygens' will study Saturn, its rings and principal moons for four years.
* Once the probe reaches its destination, it will have traveled 3.5km billion, in nearly seven years.
* It will pass 31 of Saturn's moons during the voyage.
* On Dec. 25, the Cassini orbiter will release its Huygens probe so it can land three weeks later on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.
* Titan has a diameter of more than 5,000km.
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