Missions to the outer planets

[phi1978]

Two questions:

1) When in 2004 is the Cassini probe due to reach Saturn/Titan ?

2) Are there any missions being planned or that have been proposed (cost permitting [;)]) to any of the three outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) in the not too distant future?

[LURCH]

Cassini (http://www.spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Space.Science/Solar.System/Cassini.Mission.to.Saturn/.index-text.html) is slated for arrival in 1 yr (July '04).

The New Horizons (http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/) program is just on the drawing-board, and may not happen because of budget concerns. We may have to choose between New Horizons and a probe for Europa. Pluto's the only planet we've not yet visited, but Europa has liquid water (we think), and might be our best chance of discovering life. Toufg choice, but I'd still go for Pluto, just because it will be so long before we get another chance.

[I, Brian]

Here's something you may find interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2983100.stm

Not sure what's happened to the Pluto/Kuiper Belt mission - seems to have been put back, but is still on the cards.