jonathanseer      

04-01-2011  01:18:12

If the probe is still decently functional at the end of its mission, why do they want to plunge it into Saturn's atmosphere?

If it is possible wouldn't it make far more sense to set it in orbit around Titan and let it keep recording data until all it's fuel was gone.

there is no reason to think a plunge into Saturn's atmosphere is going to discover something fantastic beyond what the probe has already revealed.

I imagine too, that pitching an extension of the probe's funding would get a far better hearing if it meant a few more years orbiting Titan.