PIA00747: Cassini Orbiter and Huygens Probe aboard the Titan IV
Cassini Orbiter and Huygens Probe aboard the Titan IV
Target Name: Earth
Is a satellite of: Sol (our sun)
Mission: Cassini-Huygens
Spacecraft: Cassini Orbiter
Product Size: 1520 samples x 2280 lines
Produced By: Kennedy Space Center
Producer ID: KSC97PC1540
Addition Date: 1997-10-23
Primary Data Set: Cassini
Full-Res TIFF: PIA00747.tif (8.635 MB)
Full-Res JPEG: PIA00747.jpg (493.9 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:
At Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Station, the Mobile Service Tower has been retracted away from the Titan IVB/Centaur carrying the Cassini spacecraft, marking a major milestone in the launch countdown sequence.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.

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

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/KSC

Image Addition Date:
1997-10-23