How much longer for Cassini?

[Buttercup]

I know the Cassini mission has been approved (twice?) for extension of its mission.

I'm wondering, though, how much longer NASA will fund it? Hopefully for as long as Cassini is operable, but what is the next proposed deadline?

[Swift]

I've moved the thread from Astronomy to Space Exploration, as a better location to get an answer.

[Doodler]

2017 is the current extension. I suppose when we get that far, provided all goes well, they'll make a determination about the fuel remaining, power generation remaining, available budget and so on, and decide whether to go for more time, or dive it into Saturn.

[PlutonianEmpire]

2017 is the current extension. I suppose when we get that far, provided all goes well, they'll make a determination about the fuel remaining, power generation remaining, available budget and so on, and decide whether to go for more time, or dive it into Saturn.

Not to hijack the thread, but what's the point of having planetary probes commit suicide at the end of their missions? Wouldn't it be better to keep them operational as long as possible, or something?

[ToSeek]

2017 is the current extension. I suppose when we get that far, provided all goes well, they'll make a determination about the fuel remaining, power generation remaining, available budget and so on, and decide whether to go for more time, or dive it into Saturn.

My impression is that they've pretty much convinced themselves that there's no point going past 2017. They're going to do 22 really close in orbits and then dive into Saturn's atmosphere to make absolutely sure there's no contamination of Titan or Enceladus. Good summary here.

[Swift]

Not to hijack the thread, but what's the point of having planetary probes commit suicide at the end of their missions? Wouldn't it be better to keep them operational as long as possible, or something?

They are keeping Cassini operational as long as possible. Good explanation in the article linked to by ToSeek

In 2017, once Cassini's fuel has all but run out, ground controllers will command the spacecraft to plunge into the planet's atmosphere, where it will be destroyed.

As the spacecraft hurtles towards Saturn, it will become incredibly hot, but will not burn up because of the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere. Instead, it will melt and ultimately be crushed by huge pressures.

Scientists are keen to avoid any chance that parts of Cassini will end up on Saturn's moons Enceladus or Titan (targets of interest in the search for extraterrestrial life) and contaminate them with any Earth bugs that have survived all these years on the spacecraft.

[PlutonianEmpire]

They are keeping Cassini operational as long as possible. Good explanation in the article linked to by ToSeek

Is it possible that it may have already been done on Titan after the Huygens lander landed?

[schlaugh]

The link includes a comment which seems to pretty well put the lid on Cassini after 2017:

In 2017, once Cassini's fuel has all but run out, ground controllers will command the spacecraft to plunge into the planet's atmosphere, where it will be destroyed

Without fuel the spacecraft can't be aimed, although maybe experiments could continue which don't require control of spacecraft orientation. Radiation measurement comes to mind but that's a guess. The other aspect to ending the mission is cost; people must be paid, facilities and systems maintained, data collected, etc. Cassini has enjoyed (and so have we) a long and terrific run.

PlutonianEmpire, what do you mean? That Cassini had fulfilled its mission after the Titan landing?

[Trebuchet]

PlutonianEmpire, what do you mean? That Cassini had fulfilled its mission after the Titan landing?

I think he meant that earthly contamination may already have occurred. Titan, however, is less a concern than icy moons like Enceladus which may have liquid water and be capable of supporting life.

[djellison]

Not to hijack the thread, but what's the point of having planetary probes commit suicide at the end of their missions? Wouldn't it be better to keep them operational as long as possible, or something?

You have to dispose of the vehicle responsibly before you're incapable of controlling it anymore.