NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
7 years 6 months ago #8796
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Grand Finale Dive #6
Orbit 276 - May 25-31
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
During this orbit, the spacecraft’s imaging cameras, Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), takes images of the edge of the A ring, the F ring, and the space in between, to study ring structure and how ring particles interact in the region. Later in the orbit, the ISS does the same for the border region of Saturn’s B and C rings.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the first of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before. Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters per pixel.
During ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called “HGA to RAM”) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles. This orbit’s ring-plane crossing is the highest Cassini ever gets in Saturn’s D ring.
Also during ring-plane crossing, in the six-minute period where impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna, allowing it to interact with ring particles while most of the spacecraft is shielded.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring
Orbit 276 - May 25-31
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
During this orbit, the spacecraft’s imaging cameras, Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), takes images of the edge of the A ring, the F ring, and the space in between, to study ring structure and how ring particles interact in the region. Later in the orbit, the ISS does the same for the border region of Saturn’s B and C rings.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the first of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before. Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters per pixel.
During ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called “HGA to RAM”) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles. This orbit’s ring-plane crossing is the highest Cassini ever gets in Saturn’s D ring.
Also during ring-plane crossing, in the six-minute period where impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna, allowing it to interact with ring particles while most of the spacecraft is shielded.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,810 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring
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7 years 5 months ago #8856
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Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
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7 years 5 months ago #8857
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Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
Grand Finale Dive #7
Orbit 277 - May 31 - June 7
During this seventh Grand Finale orbit, while Cassini flies directly over the rings above Saturn's northern hemisphere, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) produces a high-resolution thermal scan across the main rings. By scanning the rings at an angle close to 90 degrees, the foreshortening that typically reduces the instrument's effective resolution on the rings is minimized.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the second of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before: Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters.
During this orbit’s ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft again is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called HGA to RAM) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles.
And again during ring-plane crossing, in the brief period in which impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna and so can still detect impacts.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,890 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,820 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Orbit 277 - May 31 - June 7
During this seventh Grand Finale orbit, while Cassini flies directly over the rings above Saturn's northern hemisphere, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) produces a high-resolution thermal scan across the main rings. By scanning the rings at an angle close to 90 degrees, the foreshortening that typically reduces the instrument's effective resolution on the rings is minimized.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the second of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before: Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters.
During this orbit’s ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft again is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called HGA to RAM) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles.
And again during ring-plane crossing, in the brief period in which impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna and so can still detect impacts.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,890 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,820 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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7 years 5 months ago #8882
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Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
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7 years 5 months ago - 7 years 5 months ago #8921
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Grand Finale Dive #7...IN PROGRESS: Orbit 277 - May 31 - June 7
During this seventh Grand Finale orbit, while Cassini flies directly over the rings above Saturn's northern hemisphere, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) produces a high-resolution thermal scan across the main rings. By scanning the rings at an angle close to 90 degrees, the foreshortening that typically reduces the instrument's effective resolution on the rings is minimized.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the second of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before: Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters.
During this orbit’s ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft again is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called HGA to RAM) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles.
And again during ring-plane crossing, in the brief period in which impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna and so can still detect impacts.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,890 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,820 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Mimas Dwarfed
During this seventh Grand Finale orbit, while Cassini flies directly over the rings above Saturn's northern hemisphere, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) produces a high-resolution thermal scan across the main rings. By scanning the rings at an angle close to 90 degrees, the foreshortening that typically reduces the instrument's effective resolution on the rings is minimized.
Cassini’s RADAR instrument performs the second of three parts to an experiment it has never tried before: Scanning inward from the outer edge of the A ring all the way through the innermost C ring, RADAR generates scans of the main rings at resolutions from 4 kilometers down to 100 meters.
During this orbit’s ring-plane crossing, the spacecraft again is oriented such that its high-gain antenna (the big dish) faces forward (called HGA to RAM) to help shield the spacecraft from ring particles.
And again during ring-plane crossing, in the brief period in which impacts are considered most likely, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument "listens" for the impacts of ring particles, which produce detectable plasma clouds when they strike the spacecraft. The antenna protrudes several meters beyond the protection of the high-gain antenna and so can still detect impacts.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,420 miles (3,890 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,370 miles (3,820 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Mimas Dwarfed
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