Re: Timelines

On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:27:07 -0600, Michael Ash <mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>The question of just how massive this probe needs to be should also be 
>considered. Cassini was about 5600kg and it's possible that a lot of this

>could be cut down, both by reducing capabilities and by using more 
>advanced miniaturization techniques. Certainly it doesn't need the 350kg 
>of atmospheric probe that Cassini carried, and I imagine a great deal of 
>other mass could be eliminated as well. All of this can be replaced with 
>more fuel to get it there even faster.

Again, New Horizons is a useful benchmark.  Mass of 478 kilograms, made it
to Jupiter in
just over a year without a gravity assist.  So reaching Saturns orbital
distance in just
over two years is entirely reasonable.