NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
6 years 10 months ago #8796
by ??
Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
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
Please Log in to join the conversation.
6 years 10 months ago #8856
by ??
Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
Please Log in to join the conversation.
6 years 10 months ago #8857
by ??
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.
Please Log in to join the conversation.
6 years 10 months ago #8882
by ??
Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
Please Log in to join the conversation.
6 years 10 months ago - 6 years 10 months ago #8921
by ??
Replied by ?? on topic NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
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
Please Log in to join the conversation.
Featured Article Of The Week:
Click Here To View Article / Video / Enhanced Images
YouTube User: WhatsUpInTheSky37
Thank you to everyone who has stuck by the YouTube channel and to all of our admins and forum users here on the channel. They really have kept the website current while I have been busy taking care of things in my personal life. I promised that the next video would be a long one and have a LOT to look at. You can get lost in these Gigapans and I really hope that you do! I spent a lot of time stitching these together and making sure that they were the best quality that I could get them. SOL 1448 really has been a goldmine for anomaly hunters and those people who are just hobbiest. I really hope you enjoy this one and expect much more to come from the latest batches of images!
 |
    |
 |
      |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Follow Us:
Logon:
Latest Space Posts:
Latest News Posts:
Latest Articles:
- The Beautiful & Mysterious Martian Debris
- Strange Flower Looking Rock On Mars
- Perseverance Rover Following Ancient Walls / Waterways?
- Perseverance Rover Spots Dropped Abrasion Tool Test Bit
- Ancient Martian Artifacts All Around Perseverance Rover
- Perseverance Rover Stops To Look At Strange Object!
- What's Going On At WhatsUpInTheSky?
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #51 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #50 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #49 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #48 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #47 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #46 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #45 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #44 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #43 by MarsX3D
- THE EVIDENCE Episode #42 by MarsX3D
