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欧空局(ESA)已确定将探测土星的卫星土卫六(Titan)的卡西尼(Cassini)计划作为ESA的下一步空间科学计划。美国航宇局(NASA)负责研制土星轨道器Cassini并提供发射服务,ESA研制探测器。据估计,NASA将为这项计划投资约8亿美元,ESA投资2.884亿美元。 Cassini计划在2000年10月到达土星。探测器从Cassini释放后,在土卫六上空180公里时,将速度降到每秒266米,然后用降落伞进一步减速。约2～3小时,探测器穿过土卫六大气(氮气)层到达其表面。据认为,土卫六表面覆盖着液态乙烷和甲烷。探测器下降过程中发出的信号将由轨道器中继到地球。这次参与竞争ESA新的空间科学探测
The European Space Agency (ESA) has identified Titan Cassini, the probe of Saturn, as the next ESA space science project. NASA is responsible for the development of Saturn Orbiter Cassini and launch services, ESA development of detectors. It is estimated that NASA will invest about 800 million U.S. dollars for this plan and ESA invest 288.4 million U.S. dollars. Cassini plans to reach Saturn in October 2000. After the detector was released from Cassini, it dropped its speed to 266 meters per second 180 kilometers over Titan six and then further decelerated with a parachute. About 2 to 3 hours, the detector passes through Titan’s atmosphere (nitrogen) layer to reach its surface. It is believed that Titan’s surface is covered with liquid ethane and methane. The signals emitted during the descent of the detector will be relayed by the orbiter to Earth. This time to compete for ESA’s new space science exploration