Editing Cassini–Huygens (section)

== Objectives ==
''Cassini'' had several objectives, including:<ref name=cassini.objectives/>
* Determining the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the [[rings of Saturn]].
* Determining the composition of the [[Natural satellite|satellite]] surfaces and the geological history of each object.
* Determining the nature and origin of the dark material on [[Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus]]'s leading hemisphere.
* Measuring the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behavior of the [[magnetosphere]].
* Studying the dynamic behavior of Saturn's [[atmosphere]] at cloud level.
* Studying the time variability of Titan's clouds and [[haze]]s.
* Characterizing Titan's surface on a regional scale.

''Cassini–Huygens'' was launched on October 15, 1997, from [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]]'s [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40|Space Launch Complex&nbsp;40]] using a [[United States Air Force|U.S.&nbsp;Air Force]] [[Titan IV]]B/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]] rocket. The complete launcher was made up of a two-stage [[Titan IV]] [[booster rocket]], two strap-on solid [[rocket engine]]s, the Centaur upper stage, and a payload enclosure, or fairing.<ref name=cassini.summary/>

The total cost of this scientific exploration mission was about US$3.26&nbsp;[[1,000,000,000|billion]], including $1.4&nbsp;billion for pre-launch development, $704 [[million]] for mission operations, $54&nbsp;million for tracking and $422&nbsp;million for the [[launch vehicle]]. The United States contributed $2.6&nbsp;billion (80%), the ESA $500&nbsp;million (15%), and the ASI $160&nbsp;million (5%).<ref name=cassini.faq/> However, these figures are from the press kit which was prepared in October 2000. They do not include inflation over the course of a very long mission, nor do they include the cost of the extended missions.

The primary mission for ''Cassini'' was completed on July 30, 2008. The mission was extended to June 2010 (''Cassini'' Equinox Mission).<ref name=space.com4/> This studied the Saturn system in detail during the planet's [[equinox]], which happened in August 2009.<ref name=NASA-20080415/>

On February 3, 2010, NASA announced another extension for ''Cassini'', lasting 6{{frac|1|2}}&nbsp;years until 2017, ending at the time of summer solstice in Saturn's northern hemisphere (''Cassini'' Solstice Mission). The extension enabled another 155&nbsp;revolutions around the planet, 54&nbsp;flybys of Titan and 11&nbsp;flybys of [[Enceladus]].<ref name=space.com2/>
In 2017, an encounter with Titan changed its orbit in such a way that, at closest approach to Saturn, it was only {{cvt|3000|km|mi}} above the planet's cloudtops, below the inner edge of the [[Rings of Saturn#D Ring|D ring]]. This sequence of "proximal orbits" ended when its final encounter with Titan sent the probe into Saturn's atmosphere to be destroyed.

=== Destinations ===

Selected destinations (ordered largest to smallest but not to scale)
<gallery mode=packed heights="100px" style="text-align:left">
Titan in true color.jpg|[[Titan (moon)|Titan]]
Fullbl.jpg|Earth's [[Moon]]
PIA07763 Rhea full globe5.jpg|[[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]]
Iapetus 706 1419 1.jpg|[[Iapetus (moon)|Iapetus]]
Dionean Linea PIA08256.jpg|[[Dione (moon)|Dione]]
PIA18317-SaturnMoon-Tethys-Cassini-20150411.jpg|[[Tethys (moon)|Tethys]]
PIA17202 - Approaching Enceladus.jpg|[[Enceladus]]
Mimas Cassini.jpg|[[Mimas]]
Hyperion true.jpg|[[Hyperion (moon)|Hyperion]]
Phoebe cassini.jpg|[[Phoebe (moon)|Phoebe]]
PIA12714 Janus crop.jpg|[[Janus (moon)|Janus]]
PIA09813 Epimetheus S. polar region.jpg|[[Epimetheus (moon)|Epimetheus]]
PIA12593 Prometheus2.jpg|[[Prometheus (moon)|Prometheus]]
PIA21055 - Pandora Up Close.jpg|[[Pandora (moon)|Pandora]]
Leading hemisphere of Helene - 20110618.jpg|[[Helene (moon)|Helene]]
Atlas (NASA).jpg|[[Atlas (moon)|Atlas]]
PIA21436.jpg|[[Pan (moon)|Pan]]
Telesto cassini closeup.jpg|[[Telesto (moon)|Telesto]]
Calypso crop resize sharp.jpg|[[Calypso (moon)|Calypso]]
Methone PIA14633.jpg|[[Methone (moon)|Methone]]
</gallery>