How Long Does It Take to Get to Saturn?

Saturn, an immense, gaseous planet, is one of the farthest planets from Earth. It comes in at a whopping 793 million miles (~1.3 billion km) away from us. Saturn is adored by astrophiles for the seven beautiful rings that surround it. It’s not just the rings that lure people to this celestial body, but its many moons. Saturn has sixty-three moons confirmed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and another twenty are awaiting confirmation.

Saturn is years away

The United States of America sent four different spacecraft to Saturn. All their travel times to Saturn were different depending on the route taken to the planet. Pioneer 11, sent up in 1979, reached Saturn after six and a half years in space. In 1980, Voyager 1 took flight and reached Saturn in three years and two months. The next spacecraft bound for Saturn was the Voyager 2 (1981) that arrived in four years. The three spacecraft took direct routes to Saturn.

Blasting off in 1997, the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft made it to Saturn’s orbit in six years and seven months. Cassini needed four gravitational assists to be successful. It flew past Venus twice, once past Earth, and once past Jupiter. A gravity assist occurs when a spacecraft flies near a planet, which increases its velocity or changes its direction. The same spacecraft can be slowed down by using the gravity of the planet.

Two of the reasons that it took the Cassini–Huygens years to reach Saturn were that it lacked rocket power and weighed 12,593 pounds (5,712 kilograms). The Cassini–Huygens was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn, and it spent thirteen of its years exploring Saturn and its rings and moons.

Issues with human travel to Saturn

The rings around Saturn would be difficult to travel through. Pieces of ice, dust, and rock from comets and asteroids make up the rings. Large chunks of rock and ice can damage anything flying through this area.

Since the planet doesn’t have a solid surface like Earth, it would be impossible to land a spacecraft there. You wouldn’t be able to walk around like you can on Earth, or like astronauts did on the Moon. Saturn isn’t a solid planet like Earth but instead a giant gas planet. Approximately 94% of its composition is hydrogen, 6% helium, and also small amounts of methane and ammonia .

No oxygen and cold temperatures

There is no oxygen on Saturn for human survival. With a temperature of minus 288 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 178 degrees Celsius), humans would need special spacesuits to spend time there.

This intriguing planet won’t be a planet you can visit at this time. You will need to enjoy its wonderful rings from a distance.

Readability: 63.1

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 7.4

Glossary

Astrophile: a person who loves astronomy or constantly gazes at the stars

Celestial: of or in the sky or universe, as planets or stars

Gravitational assists: the use of the gravitational field of a moon, planet, or other moving celestial object to change a spacecraft’s trajectory, especially to increase its velocity. Also called a gravitational slingshot.

Velocity: refers to both the speed of an object and the direction of its motion. A velocity value should have both speed units and direction units such as m/sec north. km/h south.

Methane: a gas that is found in small quantities in the atmosphere. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH₄).

Ammonia: a colorless gas with a strong, sharp smell which is composed of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH₃)