NASA has extended the hugely successful Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn another two years and sixty orbits. The mission, originally due to end Jul. 2008, has already run for over a decade.
The extended mission allows for 26 flybys of Saturn’s moon Titan, seven of Enceladus, and one each of Dione, Rhea and Helene. Further study of Saturn's rings, its complex magnetosphere, and the planet itself is also scheduled.
Said Dennis Matson, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion, "When we designed the original tour, we really did not know what we would find, especially at Enceladus and Titan. This extended tour is responding to these new discoveries and giving us a chance to look for more."
Cassini launched Oct. 15, 1997 for a seven-year, 2.2 billion miles journey to Saturn. The spacecraft entered orbit around Saturn Jun. 2004. It delivered the European Space Agency's Huygens probe to Titan Jan. 2005.
Now, over three years later, Cassini is still going strong. Of the 12 instruments on the orbiter, three have minor ailments but are still functional. The spacecraft has enough propellant left after the extended mission for a third phase of operations if required.
"The spacecraft is performing exceptionally well and the team is highly motivated, so we're excited at the prospect of another two years," said Cassini program manager, Bob Mitchell.
