Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cassini–Huygens. (Discuss)

The Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe is a NASA spacecraft that was designed to be launched in 1997. Along with the Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby, they were modified Mariner Mark II spacecraft. The CRAF spacecraft was cancelled and the SOTP was renamed to Cassini-Huygens.

[edit] The Saturn Orbiter

The Saturn orbiter was a modified Mariner Mark II. It carried four radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and carried the Titan Probe.The Saturn orbiter carried a high-gain antenna with a bunch more instruments.

[edit] The Titan Probe

The Titan Probe (later renamed to Huygens probe) was a 318 kg probe itself and a probe support equipment was to be launched but the PSI was to remain in the orbiter itself. The probe was designed to plunge into Titan's atmosphere and its batteries were designed to support 3 hours of communications.

[edit] The renaming

Shortly thereafter, the United States Congress approved both CRAF and SOTP. However, the CRAF program was cancelled and resources were diverted to the SOTP program. SOTP was later renamed Cassini-Huygens.