That would be a shame. Cassini has already been an incredible mission, and scientists estimate it has at least four more years of life left in it. Cassini's operating budget is about $60 million per year while Curiosity's runs to roughly $50 million. That's about what the Department of Defense has budgeted for 3-D printer research and is less than half of what it's estimated to spend maintaining its golf courses. The Cassini mission has already cost $3.26 billion to launch and operate.
60 million against a 17 billion yearly NASA budget. Well, I guess they have to conserve to fund the next Solyndra or Muslim outreach.
They have a chance to go into orbit inside the ring system, weigh the rings, and descend into Saturn's atmosphere while collecting data. Can't do it, have to protect the bureaucracy. |