ESA Science & Technology - Fact Sheet

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a NASA/ESA/ASI mission to explore the Saturnian system. The ESA component consists largely of the Huygens probe, which entered the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and descended under parachute down to the surface. The Cassini spacecraft is undertaking an extensive exploration of the Saturnian system with its rings and many satellites. Cassini completed its initial four-year mission to explore the Saturn System in June 2008 and the first extended mission, called the 'Cassini Equinox Mission', in September 2010. A second extended mission, called the 'Cassini Solstice Mission' was completed September 2017; this allowed scientists to study the Saturnian system until the summer solstice is passed in May 2017. After covering one half of a Saturnian year since its arrival at the system, Cassini concluded its mission by plunging into the gas planet's atmosphere.