Planetary Science

Cassini-Huygens

Orbiter · Directed · Agency-led · Launched on October 15, 1997 · Completed · LCC: $3.3B/$7.6B (2025 $)Life-cycle cost: NASA’s reported cost to build, launch, and operate a mission through its prime mission, plus documented partner contributions, in 2025 dollars. Extended missions are not included. Methods · Wikipedia

Scope Active Mission WindowActivePapers published from the first full month after science operations begin through two years after the mission ends. Citations are counted through the third calendar year after each paper appears. For Cassini, papers published April 1, 2004 to October 1, 2019. Methods LifetimeLifetimeEvery tracked publication to date, with every citation to date. For Cassini, papers published from 2000 to November 3, 2026. Methods
Tracked publicationsTracked publications: peer-reviewed papers we found that name the mission or its instruments in their titles, abstracts, or keywords. Papers that used the data without naming it are missed. Methods3,404
CitationsCitations: every citation these publications have drawn to date. Older missions have had longer to collect them. Methods122,578
Citation indices
h-indexh-index: the largest h such that h papers have at least h citations each. It only grows with time, so older missions score higher. Methods132
g-indexg-index: the largest g for which the g most-cited papers together hold at least g² citations. Like the h-index, but it lets the most-cited papers count for more. Methods207
m-indexm-index: a mission’s h-index divided by the years since its first peer-reviewed paper. It falls every 1 January even when nothing else changes; the figure shown is as of November 3, 2026. It also discounts the long operating life that larger missions paid for. Methods4.9
toritori (total research impact, from SciX): for every paper citing one of the mission’s papers, 1 divided by the citing paper’s reference count times the cited paper’s author count, summed, with self-citations removed. It favors citations from papers with short reference lists and from outside the mission’s own authors. Computed over the tracked citation graph, which can be slightly incomplete. Always over every tracked publication to date, whichever scope is chosen. Methods491
riqriq (research impact quotient): 1,000 times the square root of tori, divided by the years since the mission’s first paper. A rate, not a total, so it does not keep growing with age the way the h-index and tori do. Like tori, always over every tracked publication to date. Methods791

Publications and citations by year (lifetime)

Publications per yearCumulative citations

Institutional contributions (lifetime)The institutions SciX lists for each paper’s authors, as printed on the paper, located through the Research Organization Registry. A square counts a paper once, however many of its authors worked there. Methods

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Tracked publications over the lifetime (3,404)

All publications CSV · JSON

  1. A test of general relativity using radio links with the Cassini spacecraft

    Bertotti, B., 2003, Natur

    1,814 lifetime citations

  2. Cassini Observes the Active South Pole of Enceladus

    Porco, C. C., 2006, Sci

    1,048 lifetime citations

  3. The abundances of constituents of Titan's atmosphere from the GCMS instrument on the Huygens probe

    Niemann, H. B., 2005, Natur

    796 lifetime citations

  4. Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer: Enceladus Plume Composition and Structure

    Waite, J. Hunter, 2006, Sci

    591 lifetime citations

  5. In situ measurements of the physical characteristics of Titan's environment

    Fulchignoni, M., 2005, Natur

    590 lifetime citations

  6. The Process of Tholin Formation in Titan’s Upper Atmosphere

    Waite, J. H., 2007, Sci

    561 lifetime citations

  7. Cassini Encounters Enceladus: Background and the Discovery of a South Polar Hot Spot

    Spencer, J. R., 2006, Sci

    530 lifetime citations

  8. The JPL Planetary and Lunar Ephemerides DE440 and DE441

    Park, Ryan S., 2021, AJ

    524 lifetime citations

  9. Enceladus' Water Vapor Plume

    Hansen, Candice J., 2006, Sci

    505 lifetime citations

  10. The lakes of Titan

    Stofan, E. R., 2007, Natur

    489 lifetime citations

  11. Rain, winds and haze during the Huygens probe's descent to Titan's surface

    Tomasko, M. G., 2005, Natur

    480 lifetime citations

  12. The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation

    Gurnett, D. A., 2004, SSRv

    479 lifetime citations

  13. Cassini finds molecular hydrogen in the Enceladus plume: Evidence for hydrothermal processes

    Waite, J. Hunter, 2017, Sci

    467 lifetime citations

  14. Cassini Plasma Spectrometer Investigation

    Young, D. T., 2004, SSRv

    459 lifetime citations

  15. The Cassini Magnetic Field Investigation

    Dougherty, M. K., 2004, SSRv

    458 lifetime citations

  16. A salt-water reservoir as the source of a compositionally stratified plume on Enceladus

    Postberg, F., 2011, Natur

    417 lifetime citations

  17. Detection of Adsorbed Water and Hydroxyl on the Moon

    Clark, Roger N., 2009, Sci

    409 lifetime citations

  18. Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer Results from the First Flyby of Titan

    Waite, J. Hunter, 2005, Sci

    392 lifetime citations

  19. Cassini Imaging of Jupiter's Atmosphere, Satellites, and Rings

    Porco, Carolyn C., 2003, Sci

    391 lifetime citations

  20. Discovery of heavy negative ions in Titan's ionosphere

    Coates, A. J., 2007, GeoRL

    386 lifetime citations

How we found these papers

We searched NASA’s Science Explorer (SciX) for peer-reviewed articles naming Cassini in the title, abstract or keywords; standard filters drop articles that are not peer-reviewed and magazine pieces.

((((abs:Cassini OR abs:(VIMS OR CIRS OR UVIS OR INMS OR RPWS OR CAPS OR CDA OR MIMI)) AND abs:(Saturn OR Saturnian OR Titan OR Enceladus OR Iapetus OR Rhea OR Dione OR Hyperion OR Mimas OR Tethys OR Phoebe)) OR (abs:Cassini AND abs:(Jupiter OR Jovian OR Io OR INCA OR heliosphere OR heliosheath OR heliospheric OR "energetic neutral" OR "interplanetary shock" OR "interstellar dust" OR "radio science" OR "radio tracking" OR "solar conjunction" OR "Earth flyby" OR "Venus flyby" OR "solar wind") NOT abs:"Cassini state") OR (abs:Cassini AND abs:VIMS AND abs:(lunar OR Moon)) OR (abs:Huygens AND abs:Titan))) AND property:refereed AND doctype:article AND pubdate:[2004-04 TO 2040-01] AND NOT bibstem:("A&R" OR "ACPD" OR "AIASJ" OR "AMTD" OR "AeAm" OR "AirSp" OR "AsNow" OR "AsUAI" OR "AvWST" OR "BGD" OR "C&E" OR "C&T" OR "CAPJ" OR "CliPD" OR "E&S" OR "ENews" OR "ESDD" OR "ESSDD" OR "ESuDD" OR "GID" OR "GMDD" OR "GeCAS" OR "HESSD" OR "IrAJ" OR "JCos" OR "JRASC" OR "LAstr" OR "MNSSA" OR "Met" OR "NHESD" OR "NPGD" OR "NewSc" OR "OcScD" OR "Orion" OR "PhT" OR "PhTea" OR "PhuZ" OR "PhyOJ" OR "PhyW" OR "PlR" OR "SOILD" OR "SciAm" OR "SpFl" OR "TCD" OR "ZemVs")

Open in SciX

Added after review (33)

  1. A test of general relativity using radio links with the Cassini spacecraft Cassini radio-science test of general relativity during the 2002 solar conjunction. Decision 🤖
  2. Cassini Imaging of Jupiter's Atmosphere, Satellites, and Rings Cassini ISS imaging of Jupiter's atmosphere, satellites and rings from the 2000-2001 Jupiter flyby. Decision 🤖
  3. Control of Jupiter's radio emission and aurorae by the solar wind Simultaneous Cassini RPWS and Galileo observations of solar-wind control of Jupiter's radio emission and aurorae. Decision 🤖
  4. Ultra-relativistic electrons in Jupiter's radiation belts Cassini radiometer synchrotron observations revealing ultra-relativistic electrons in Jupiter's radiation belts. Decision 🤖
  5. Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background: Upper Limits in the 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ Hz Band Gravitational-wave background limits from Cassini Doppler tracking during the 2001-2002 solar opposition. Decision 🤖
  6. Non-detection at Venus of high-frequency radio signals characteristic of terrestrial lightning Cassini RPWS search for lightning radio signals during the two Venus flybys. Decision 🤖
  7. Observations with the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) during Cassini's flyby of Jupiter Cassini VIMS science observations of the Jupiter system during the flyby. Decision 🤖
  8. Detection of Sub-Micron Radiation from the Surface of Venus by Cassini/VIMS First Cassini VIMS planetary spectrum: sub-micron thermal emission from the surface of Venus. Decision 🤖
  9. Cassini between Venus and Earth: Detection of interstellar dust Cassini CDA in situ detection of interstellar dust between Venus and Earth. Decision 🤖
  10. Cassini and Wind stereoscopic observations of Jovian nonthermal radio emissions: Measurement of beam widths Cassini RPWS and Wind stereoscopic measurements of Jovian radio emission beam widths. Decision 🤖
  11. The Nitrogen Isotopic Ratio in Jupiter's Atmosphere from Observations by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer on the Cassini Spacecraft Jupiter nitrogen isotopic ratio retrieved from Cassini CIRS flyby spectra. Decision 🤖
  12. A nebula of gases from Io surrounding Jupiter Cassini MIMI INCA energetic neutral atom imaging of the Io nebula around Jupiter. Decision 🤖
  13. The interstellar hydrogen shadow: Observations of interstellar pickup ions beyond Jupiter Cassini CAPS observations of interstellar pickup ions and the interstellar hydrogen shadow beyond Jupiter. Decision 🤖
  14. Leakage of energetic particles from Jupiter's dusk magnetosphere: Dual spacecraft observations Dual Galileo and Cassini observations of energetic particle leakage from Jupiter's dusk magnetosphere. Decision 🤖
  15. Cassini plasma spectrometer measurements of Jovian bow shock structure Cassini CAPS, magnetometer and RPWS measurements of Jovian bow shock structure. Decision 🤖
  16. First evidence of IMF control of Jovian magnetospheric boundary locations: Cassini and Galileo magnetic field measurements compared IMF control of Jovian magnetospheric boundaries from Cassini and Galileo magnetic field measurements. Decision 🤖
  17. Magnetometer measurements from the Cassini Earth swing-by Cassini magnetometer measurements during the 1999 Earth swing-by, reporting new magnetospheric wave observations. Decision 🤖
  18. Overview of mirror mode fluctuations in the jovian dusk magnetosheath: Cassini magnetometer observations Mirror-mode fluctuations in the Jovian dusk magnetosheath from Cassini magnetometer data. Decision 🤖
  19. Oblique ``1-Hz'' whistler mode waves in an electron foreshock: The Cassini near-Earth encounter Oblique 1 Hz whistler-mode waves in Earth's electron foreshock observed during the Cassini Earth encounter. Decision 🤖
  20. Wave normal and Poynting vector calculations using the Cassini radio and plasma wave instrument Wave normal and Poynting vector analysis of Cassini RPWS waveform data during the Earth flyby. Decision 🤖
  21. Cassini plasma spectrometer electron spectrometer measurements during the Earth swing-by on August 18, 1999 Cassini CAPS electron spectrometer measurements across Earth's magnetosphere and solar wind during the 1999 swing-by. Decision 🤖
  22. Modeling radio emission attenuation lanes observed by the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft Modelling of Jovian radio attenuation lanes observed by Cassini RPWS and Galileo. Decision 🤖
  23. An overview of observations by the Cassini radio and plasma wave investigation at earth Cassini RPWS observations of the terrestrial radio and plasma wave environment during the Earth flyby. Decision 🤖
  24. Observations of two complete substorm cycles during the Cassini Earth swing-by: Cassini magnetometer data in a global context Two substorm cycles observed with Cassini magnetometer data during the Earth swing-by, set in a global context. Decision 🤖
  25. Ion cyclotron waves in the EarthÂ’s magnetotail during CASSINIÂ’s Earth swing-by Ion cyclotron waves in Earth's magnetotail observed during the Cassini Earth swing-by. Decision 🤖
  26. Scalar helium magnetometer observations at Cassini Earth swing-by Cassini scalar helium magnetometer measurements of Earth's near-equatorial field during a magnetic storm. Decision 🤖
  27. Ion isotropy and ion resonant waves in the solar wind: Cassini observations First 1 Hz electric-field measurements in the solar wind from a three-axis stabilized spacecraft, Cassini RPWS. Decision 🤖
  28. Cassini-VIMS at Jupiter: solar occultation measurements using Io Cassini VIMS solar occultation measurements of Jupiter's atmosphere using Io during the flyby. Decision 🤖
  29. Energetic particle measurements during the earth swing-by of the Cassini spacecraft in August 1999 Cassini MIMI LEMMS energetic particle snapshot of Earth's magnetosphere during the 1999 swing-by. Decision 🤖
  30. UVIS/HDAC Lyman-α observations of the geocorona during Cassini’s Earth swingby compared to model predictions Cassini UVIS HDAC Lyman-alpha measurements of the geocorona during the Earth swing-by compared with models. Decision 🤖
  31. Principal components analysis of Jupiter VIMS spectra Principal-component analysis of Cassini VIMS Jupiter spectra from the December 2000 flyby. Decision 🤖
  32. Cassini plasma spectrometer observations of bidirectional lobe electrons during the Earth flyby, August 18, 1999 Cassini CAPS observations of bidirectional lobe electrons during the Earth flyby. Decision 🤖
  33. Cassini/VIMS observations of the moon Cassini VIMS lunar images and spectra from the 1999 Earth flyby, with mineralogical maps. Decision 🤖

Removed after review (33)

  1. Dynamics of Colombo's top: tidal dissipation and resonance capture, with applications to oblique super-Earths, ultra-short-period planets and inspiraling hot Jupiters Cassini here is a spin-orbit equilibrium in exoplanet dynamics; not the spacecraft. Decision 🤖
  2. Class-Wise Distribution Adaptation for Unsupervised Classification of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Images CDA here means a classification method for hyperspectral images; not Cassini's dust analyzer. Decision 🤖
  3. Analysis of French Jesuit observations of Io made in China in AD 1689‒1690 Historical study of 17th-century Io observations; Cassini here is the astronomer. Decision 🤖
  4. The GAPS Programme with HARPS-N at TNG. VIII. Observations of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect and characterisation of the transiting planetary systems HAT-P-36 and WASP-11/HAT-P-10 Cassini here is a ground-based telescope in Bologna; not the spacecraft. Decision 🤖
  5. Cassini, Rømer, and the velocity of light History of the discovery of the speed of light; Cassini here is the astronomer. Decision 🤖
  6. Planetary long periodic terms in Mercury's rotation: a two dimensional adiabatic approach Cassini here is a celestial-mechanics equilibrium state for Mercury; not the spacecraft. Decision 🤖
  7. STEREO/Waves Goniopolarimetry Incorrect mission matching. Decision 👨
  8. Saturn's cloud morphology and zonal winds before the Cassini encounter Saturn cloud and wind observations from Hubble and the ground made before Cassini arrived; uses no Cassini data. Decision 👨
  9. Snapshot: Light show One-line news caption for a Cassini image; not a research paper. Decision 🤖
  10. Demonstration of industrially-fabricated plutonium disposition MOX CDA here is a nuclear fuel workshop; unrelated to Cassini's dust analyzer. Decision 🤖
  11. Transformation of orientation and rotation angles of synchronous satellites: Application to the Galilean moons Cassini here is a reference plane in satellite rotation theory; not the spacecraft. Decision 🤖
  12. Reaction: Chemistry Driven by the Harsh Space Environment Magazine profile of a scientist; not a research paper. Decision 🤖
  13. Current state of modeling the photochemistry of Titan's mutually dependent atmosphere and ionosphere Pre-arrival Titan photochemistry model; mentions Cassini-Huygens only as a future data source. Decision 🤖
  14. 2019AsBio..19....1H Planning roadmap for future ocean-world exploration; does not name Cassini. Decision 🤖
  15. Cassini's Magnificent Machines Run Rings Around Saturn Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  16. Making the papers Nature's Making the Paper feature, an interview about a published paper; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  17. Titan: tapping the flood of data Unsigned Nature editorial on the mission; a news and opinion item, not research. Decision 🤖
  18. Cassini Catches Mysterious Hot Spot on Icy-Cold Enceladus Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  19. Signs of warm water on Saturn's moon Nature staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  20. Cassini Spies an Ocean Inside Saturn's Icy, Gassy Moon Titan Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  21. Cassini Plumbs the Depths of the Enceladus Sea Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  22. Cassini detects interstellar dust grains Science editors' one-paragraph summary of a published paper; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  23. Saturn spacecraft begins science swan-song Nature staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  24. Cassini’s 13 years of stunning Saturn science — in pictures Nature staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  25. Cassini crashes into Saturn — but could still deliver big discoveries Nature staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  26. Cassini embarks on twilight mission at Saturn Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  27. A fiery finish to Cassini's long run at Saturn Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  28. A legacy of discovery Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  29. Saturn's rings are solar system newcomers Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  30. Cassini enters Saturn's ionosphere Science editors' one-paragraph summary of a published paper; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  31. Dueling spacecraft look deep into Saturn and Jupiter Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  32. Cassini's last look at Saturn's rings Science editors' one-paragraph summary of a published paper; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖
  33. NASA to fly drone on Titan Science staff news article reporting mission results; a news item, not research. Decision 🤖