PIA00747: Cassini Orbiter and Huygens Probe aboard the Titan IV


Cassini Orbiter and Huygens Probe aboard the Titan IV

Caption:

At Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Station, the Mobile Service Tower has been retracted away from the Titan IVB/Centaur carrying the Cassini spacecraft, marking a major milestone in the launch countdown sequence. Retraction of the structure began about an hour later than scheduled due to minor problems with ground support equipment. The launch vehicle, Cassini spacecraft and attached Centaur stage encased in a payload fairing, altogether stand about 183 feet tall; mounted at the base of the launch vehicle are two upgraded solid rocket motors. Liftoff of Cassini on the journey to Saturn and its moon Titan is slated to occur during a window opening at 4:55 a.m. EDT, Oct. 13, and extending through 7:15 a.m.

Background Info:

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the U.S. contribution to the Cassini mission for NASA's Office of Space Science.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Earth Saturn, Titan
System Saturn
Target Type Satellite Planet
Mission Cassini-Huygens
Instrument Host Cassini Orbiter Huygens Probe
Host Type Orbiter Lander, Probe
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Color
Acquisition Date
Release Date 1997-10-23
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL/KSC
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00747
Identifier PIA00747