Launch Information

Launch Information

At 08:43:00 UTC on 15 October 1997 a Titan IV-B/Centaur launch vehicle took off from launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral carrying with it the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft.

Click for larger image showing the launch of Cassini-Huygens
Scientists from the various international participants had gathered at launch events across the globe to watch the event. After an initial delay of a couple of days (due to high winds) there was great relief when the spacraft finally lifted off the pad at the start of its seven year journey to Saturn.

The launcher consisted of a two-stage liquid propellant booster rocket, two strap-on solid rocket motors, an upper stage (Centaur) and a 22 m high payload fairing. At launch the rocket weighed around 950 tonnes, with the spacraft making about 6 tonnes.

Summary of Launch Events

Time Since Launch Event
02m23s Separation of Titan IV/B launcher
Altitude: 91.4 km
Velocity: 7000 km per hour
4m30s+ Parking orbit achieved
Apogee: 360 km
Perigee: 170 km
42m40s After a long burn of the Centaur stage Cassini-Huygens separation
52m40s Cassini-Huygens communicates with NASA Deep Space Network

Telemetry received from the spacecraft indicated that the launch was a very good one - the energy imparted to the spacecraft was accurate to one part in 5000 and the deviation in trajectory no greater than 0.04 degrees.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
19-Mar-2024 10:24 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/p/g84pxR8