NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
7 years 5 months ago #8954
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Grand Finale Dive #8
IN PROGRESS: Orbit 278 - June 7 - 13
During this orbit, Cassini’s Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) performs the fourth of six radio occultations of Saturn’s ring system and runs a gravity experiment to study Saturn's gravitational field in the highest possible detail. The experiment seeks to measure how spherical Saturn’s gravity field is, and to help scientists measure the mass of Saturn’s rings, a figure that is not precisely known.
During the radio experiments, Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) scoops up and analyzes small ring particles to help determine the age of Saturn’s rings. Interplanetary meteoroids bombard Saturn’s main rings, depositing silicates, organics, and metals in the ring particles. The more of those contaminants the CDA finds, the older Saturn’s rings probably are.
Next Cassini’s Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) maps Saturn’s southern hemisphere at some of the highest resolutions of the mission. The instrument looks for changes in winds, cloud structures and perhaps changes in atmospheric chemistry as the rate of atmospheric upwelling changes with seasons.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,120 miles (3,410 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,670 miles (4,300 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
IN PROGRESS: Orbit 278 - June 7 - 13
During this orbit, Cassini’s Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) performs the fourth of six radio occultations of Saturn’s ring system and runs a gravity experiment to study Saturn's gravitational field in the highest possible detail. The experiment seeks to measure how spherical Saturn’s gravity field is, and to help scientists measure the mass of Saturn’s rings, a figure that is not precisely known.
During the radio experiments, Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) scoops up and analyzes small ring particles to help determine the age of Saturn’s rings. Interplanetary meteoroids bombard Saturn’s main rings, depositing silicates, organics, and metals in the ring particles. The more of those contaminants the CDA finds, the older Saturn’s rings probably are.
Next Cassini’s Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) maps Saturn’s southern hemisphere at some of the highest resolutions of the mission. The instrument looks for changes in winds, cloud structures and perhaps changes in atmospheric chemistry as the rate of atmospheric upwelling changes with seasons.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,120 miles (3,410 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,670 miles (4,300 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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7 years 5 months ago #8955
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7 years 5 months ago #9002
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7 years 5 months ago #9009
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Grand Finale Dive #9
Orbit 279 - June 13 - 20:
During this orbit, Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observes Saturn’s northern aurora, attempting to capture the entire auroral oval over several observations. The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes the aurora at the same time.
Cassini’s Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) takes priority during ring-plane crossing, measuring the density and composition of neutral particles in that region to study the relationship between Saturn’s rings and the planet’s atmosphere. INMS also measures ions such as O2+ created on the surface of the rings and transported along field lines to other locations.
The Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) samples ring particles around ring-plane crossing.
The spacecraft’s imaging cameras, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), takes a special photo of the rings from the inside out around ring-plane crossing.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,080 miles (3,350 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,710 miles (4,360 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Orbit 279 - June 13 - 20:
During this orbit, Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observes Saturn’s northern aurora, attempting to capture the entire auroral oval over several observations. The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes the aurora at the same time.
Cassini’s Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) takes priority during ring-plane crossing, measuring the density and composition of neutral particles in that region to study the relationship between Saturn’s rings and the planet’s atmosphere. INMS also measures ions such as O2+ created on the surface of the rings and transported along field lines to other locations.
The Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) samples ring particles around ring-plane crossing.
The spacecraft’s imaging cameras, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), takes a special photo of the rings from the inside out around ring-plane crossing.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,080 miles (3,350 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,710 miles (4,360 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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7 years 5 months ago #9014
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7 years 5 months ago #9015
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7 years 5 months ago #9066
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Grand Finale Orbit #10
Orbit 280 - June 20 - 26:
During this orbit, Cassini’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes Saturn’s moon Dione to better understand the moon’s temperatures and to study the composition and structure of the moon’s surface material.
Cassini’s Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) performs another occultation of Saturn’s ring system and runs a gravity experiment to study Saturn's gravitational field in detail. The experiment seeks to measure how spherical Saturn’s gravity field is. Deviations from a spherical shape reveal how the density within Saturn varies with depth and how surface winds influence lower atmospheric depths. In addition, Cassini simultaneously feels the gravitational pull of the rings (the B-Ring, in particular). Scientists should be able to determine the rings' mass very accurately from the data collected on this pass. The rings' mass helps scientists determine the age of the ring system.
During the radio experiments, Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) scoops up and analyzes small ring particles to help determine the age of Saturn’s rings. Interplanetary meteoroids bombard Saturn’s main rings, depositing silicates, organics, and metals in the ring particles. The more of those contaminants the CDA finds, the older Saturn’s rings probably are.
The CIRS instrument also observes Saturn’s A ring to compare properties of ice in the rings and on Saturn’s icy moons.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,110 miles (3,390 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,680 miles (4,320 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Orbit 280 - June 20 - 26:
During this orbit, Cassini’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes Saturn’s moon Dione to better understand the moon’s temperatures and to study the composition and structure of the moon’s surface material.
Cassini’s Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) performs another occultation of Saturn’s ring system and runs a gravity experiment to study Saturn's gravitational field in detail. The experiment seeks to measure how spherical Saturn’s gravity field is. Deviations from a spherical shape reveal how the density within Saturn varies with depth and how surface winds influence lower atmospheric depths. In addition, Cassini simultaneously feels the gravitational pull of the rings (the B-Ring, in particular). Scientists should be able to determine the rings' mass very accurately from the data collected on this pass. The rings' mass helps scientists determine the age of the ring system.
During the radio experiments, Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) scoops up and analyzes small ring particles to help determine the age of Saturn’s rings. Interplanetary meteoroids bombard Saturn’s main rings, depositing silicates, organics, and metals in the ring particles. The more of those contaminants the CDA finds, the older Saturn’s rings probably are.
The CIRS instrument also observes Saturn’s A ring to compare properties of ice in the rings and on Saturn’s icy moons.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 2,110 miles (3,390 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,680 miles (4,320 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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