Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Science
Related: About this forumSaturn mission approaches tour finale
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38160057Saturn mission approaches tour finale
By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent
30 November 2016
From the section Science & Environment
The Cassini spacecraft is beginning the end phases of its mission to Saturn. Having spent 12 years flying around the ringed planet and its moons at a relatively safe distance, the probe is now about to undertake a series of daredevil manoeuvres. These will see the satellite repeatedly dive extremely close to - and through - the rings over the next nine months. The manoeuvres will culminate in Cassini dumping itself in the atmosphere of the giant planet.
This destructive ending is necessary because the spacecraft is running low on fuel. Nasa (US space agency), which leads the Cassini mission, needs to make sure that an out-of-control probe cannot at some future date crash into any of Saturns moons - in particular, Enceladus and Titan. There is a chance these moons harbour life, and however remote the possibility - a colliding satellite could introduce contamination from Earth. This must not be allowed to happen.
But in the lead up to its safe disposal - set for 15 September next year - Cassini should gather some remarkable science. Starting on Wednesday, Cassini will repeatedly climb high above Saturn's north pole before then plunging to a point just outside the F ring (the outer boundary of the main ring system). The probe will do 20 such orbits, even sampling some of the particles and gases associated with the F ring.
Starting on 22 April next year, Cassini will then initiate a series of dives that take it in between the inner edge of the rings and the planets atmosphere. On occasion, it could pass less than 2,000km above Saturns cloud tops. As well as returning some spectacular imagery of the rings and moonlets previously seen only from a large distance, these upcoming manoeuvres are designed to permit close-up investigation of Saturns interior.
(snip)
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 953 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Saturn mission approaches tour finale (Original Post)
nitpicker
Dec 2016
OP
longship
(40,416 posts)1. Carolyn Porco at TED on the Cassini mission
This is from a few years ago, but it is still inspiring and relevant.
Carolyn Porco's impassioned Cassini mission TED talk. If you have not seen this, it is a must see.
Enjoy!
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)2. Some of the greatest photographs in human history
Have been taken by that machine.
kebob
(499 posts)3. Ya Know, When We Get Together, We Can Still Do Cool Shit!