Exploration of Saturn

The exploration of Saturn has been done using special machines called probes that fly through space without any people inside. These probes have helped scientists learn a lot about Saturn and its many moons. Three of these missions were "flybys," meaning the probes flew close to Saturn but did not stay in orbit.

Artist's concept of Cassini's orbit insertion around Saturn

The most famous of these missions was the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft. It was launched in 1997 and entered orbit around Saturn in 2004. Cassini stayed there for many years, until 2017, sending back amazing pictures and information about the planet and its rings. This mission helped us understand more about how Saturn works and what its moons are like.

Missions

A list of past and future journeys to the outer Solar System, including Saturn, can be found at the List of missions to the outer planets article. We have learned about Saturn only through robotic probes. Three of these missions were flybys, which gave us important information.

The most famous mission was the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft. It was launched in 1997 and entered orbit around Saturn in 2004. It stayed there until 2017, helping scientists learn many new things about Saturn and its moons.

Flybys

Saturn was first visited by Pioneer 11 in September 1979. It flew within 20,000 kilometres of the planet and sent back images of Saturn and some of its moons. It also studied the rings and discovered a thin ring called the F-ring.

The Voyager 1 probe visited Saturn in November 1980. It sent the first clear pictures of the planet, its rings, and its moons. It flew close to Titan and learned more about its thick atmosphere.

Pioneer 11 image of Saturn.

In August 1981, the Voyager 2 probe continued exploring Saturn. It took more close-up pictures of the moons and studied the rings. It also measured temperatures in Saturn's atmosphere, finding it much colder at the top than deeper down.

Voyagers

Main article: Voyager program

Cassini orbiter

Saturn eclipses the Sun, as seen from Cassini.

In 2004, the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft started orbiting Saturn. Before that, it flew by the moon Phoebe and sent back many pictures.

Cassini let go of the Huygens probe, which landed on Titan and shared important facts. Cassini found geysers on Enceladus and big lakes on Titan. It also discovered new rings and moons around Saturn. The mission ended in 2017 when Cassini entered Saturn’s atmosphere as planned.

Future missions

NASA plans to launch the Dragonfly spacecraft in 2028. It will travel to the Saturn system and try to land on the moon Titan. Scientists are excited to learn more about this interesting world.

Proposed missions

Missions to Saturn face competition from missions to other Solar System bodies

The Titan Saturn System Mission (TSSM) was a plan by NASA and ESA to explore Saturn and its moons Titan and Enceladus. This idea was considered along with another plan called the Europa Jupiter System Mission. In 2009, the Europa mission was chosen to start first. But scientists continued to work on the TSSM idea for possible future missions.

Other ideas for missions to Saturn included: