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Missions to Saturn

Mission Country Launch Date Arrival Date Type Encounter Characteristics

Pioneer 11 USA April 6, 1973 September 1, 1979 Flyby Transmitted low-resolution images and other data about Saturn.
Discovered additional rings and moons not previously known
Voyager 1 USA September 5, 1977 November 13, 1980 Flyby 900 images of Saturn's moons
Major discoveries were the unexpected complexity of the rings and the true nature of Titan's atmosphere.
Voyager 2 USA August 20, 1977 August 26, 1981 Flyby 1150 images of Saturn's moons
Had a scan platform malfunction, yet virtually all objectives were met.
Cassini USA, ESA, Italy October 13, 1997 July 1, 2004 Orbiter/Atmospheric probe 12 science experiments will help scientists understand Saturn's moons, rings, atmosphere, and magnetosphere.
Huygens, an atmospheric probe carried aboard Cassini, will parachute through Titan's atmosphere.

An Overview of Space Exploration


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Last modified January 12, 2005 by Randy Russell.
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