{{One source|date=August 2021}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Kronos'' (spacecraft)}} {{Other uses|Kronos (disambiguation){{!}}Kronos}}

'''''Kronos''''' is a concept mission to [[Saturn]]. It is aimed at detailed study of the chemical composition of Saturn's atmosphere, gravity and magnetic fields. The proposal consists of the solar powered carrier spacecraft, two atmospheric probes and (possibly) two small probes for the close-up imaging of the [[Rings of Saturn|Saturnian rings]].

==History== ''Kronos'' was proposed in 2009 as a collaboration between [[NASA]] and [[ESA]].<ref name=Marty2009>{{cite journal|last=Marty|first=B.|author2=Guillot, T. |author3=Coustenis, A. |display-authors=etal |title=''Kronos'': exploring the depths of Saturn with probes and remote sensing through an international mission|date=2009|journal=Experimental Astronomy|volume=23|issue=3|pages=947&ndash;976|doi=10.1007/s10686-008-9094-9|bibcode=2009ExA....23..977M|doi-access=free}}</ref>

After the launch and several [[Flyby (spaceflight)|flyby]]s of Venus, Earth and Jupiter, ''Kronos'' would arrive at Saturn. The cruise time depends on chosen trajectory and is from 6 to 17 years. In the vicinity of Saturn two atmospheric probes are to be released, entering the atmosphere of Saturn and obtaining information on [[chemical composition]] (including [[isotope|isotopic]] ratios), temperature, wind speeds and cloud structure to pressures down to 10&nbsp;[[bar (unit)|bars]].

Two rings probes, if implemented, would also be released in order to provide images of ring particles from a very close distance (a few kilometers). The carrier spacecraft is proposed to fly by Saturn at a close distance obtaining precision information on the gravitational and magnetic fields of Saturn as well as on the atmospheric circulation and deep composition of the atmosphere.<ref name=Marty2009/>

The carrier spacecraft design closely follows that of Jupiter orbiter [[Juno (mission)|''Juno'']] including solar panels. The proposed design of the descent probes would be similar to that of ''[[Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]]''{{'}}s [[Galileo (spacecraft)#Galileo entry probe|atmospheric entry probe]]. The mission would be generally based on existing technology.<ref name=Marty2009/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Saturn spacecraft|state=expanded}} {{NASA navbox}} {{European Space Agency}}

[[Category:Missions to Saturn]] [[Category:Extraterrestrial orbiters]] [[Category:Proposed space probes]]

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