Only a few weeks til the Phoebe flyby...
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Only a few weeks til the Phoebe flyby...
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Image of the Week (already today? =D>): Pandora and Prometheus Near F Ring.
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I want to see some good Mimas pictures. Such a creepy looking Deathstar moon
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Editorial: Get ready to be overwhelmed by Saturn.
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
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Its just an adjective I thought of (although others probably beat me to it. HA! See if RCH will ever admit that!) for Titan. I read somewhere that the atmosphere is smoggy, hence "the smog moon". Uranus would probably fit the description better. Another adjective I have is for Europa; the ice moon. Cool, huh? The moon Io already has a name I happen to agree with; the pizza moon. Perhaps a "Planetary Nicknames" thread should emerge? We are most definately the waterworld. Glub.Originally Posted by genebujold
The smog moon Titan? Probably the alien equivalent of L.A...Got a problem with kilometers? :P That would still make an impression.
Have you ever read the book 2001? (Clarke wrote it while the film was in production, making changes along the way.) Anyway, the book had the Discovery going on to Saturn after Jupiter. I mention it here, because often, life ends up imitating art. I felt that the Galileo mission was like 2010 in a way (a spinning section of a spacecraft included!). Of course, it was a machine that did the adventure, but still, its almost like going on the ride. And now Cassini is about to take us on another space odessy! Wonder if it will snap some images of Iapetus? Of course, the BIG event is when the Huygens probes takes some snapshots of the smog moon Titan. Ooo, I can hardly wait to see what's there! Be prepared for anything!
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Cassini was only 20 million kilometers from Saturn at 02:40:06 UT on 2004-May-25. =D>
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Cassini has now officially entered the Saturn Planetary System. 8)
=D> =D> =D>Last Tuesday, May 18, Cassini officially entered the Saturn planetary system, where the gravitational pull of Saturn overtook the influence of the Sun and we crossed the outer limits of the most distant group of Saturnian moons.
In just two weeks, we will make our closest approach to Phoebe, the largest member of that population....perhaps a captured body from the asteroid belt or perhaps an interloper from the distant Kuiper Belt, beyond Pluto.
Events will soon come blindingly fast, and starting on Monday, May 24, the Cassini Imaging Team will be increasing the frequency of its postings of images for the enjoyment of scientists and members of the public alike.
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Outstanding!
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Correction: Image of the Day.
Today: Rings and Shadows.
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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
Order of Kilopi
The translucence is captivating. 8)
Order of Kilopi
I hope we will see less color diparity in future images. Still, it sure is a site!
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Rocket firing on tap for Cassini spacecraft
For the first time in nearly five years, the Cassini spacecraft's main engine system will fire up this evening for a critical course adjustment that will serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for Saturn orbit insertion July 1.
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
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Just 1,250 miles from Phoebe? Those will be some incredible pictures!
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Indeed!
Voyager 2 photographed Phoebe with a resolution of 20 km/pixel.
Cassini's photos will have resolution up to 15 meters/pixel.
8)
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Cassini, by a knockout in 3 rounds.
Poor old Hubble doesn't even have an RTG, let alone a 73-pounder. It won't stand a chance.
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Yes, but Hubble is a heavyweight, tipping the scales at 11,110 kilograms. The welterweight Cassini (5,574 kilograms, and that's with propellant) is completely overmatched.Cassini, by a knockout in 3 rounds.
Poor old Hubble doesn't even have an RTG, let alone a 73-pounder. It won't stand a chance.
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
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Rocket firing successful
The computer-initiated rocket firing, known as trajectory correction maneuver 20, began on time at 7:47:31 p.m. EDT and lasted some five minutes and 56 seconds. Assessment of Cassini's slightly altered trajectory, along with analysis of spacecraft telemetry, will not be available until later. But a spokeswoman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said "everything appeared to have gone well," based on subtle changes in the radio signal coming from the spacecraft.
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
Order of Kilopi
Whew!!! That's a relief. The main motor still works.
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After the Mars Observer blew up under similar circumstances in the early 90's, the JPL folks are pretty antsy about the operation of their propulsion systems. I've seen a diagram of Cassini's, and it's got an almost unbelievable amount of redundancy.
Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.
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The maneuver beginning time 7:47:31 is in ERT. The OWLT between the earth and Saturn is 1 hour 21 minute 31 second then, so actually, the beginning time in SCET should be 6:26:00.The computer-initiated rocket firing, known as trajectory correction maneuver 20, began on time at 7:47:31 p.m. EDT and lasted some five minutes and 56 seconds. Assessment of Cassini's slightly altered trajectory, along with analysis of spacecraft telemetry, will not be available until later. But a spokeswoman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said "everything appeared to have gone well," based on subtle changes in the radio signal coming from the spacecraft.
Order of Kilopi
Yeahbut! No matter how much redundancy is built into the main motor, there is still only one of them. It is nice to know that it works after 5+ years of inactivity. 8)After the Mars Observer blew up under similar circumstances in the early 90's, the JPL folks are pretty antsy about the operation of their propulsion systems. I've seen a diagram of Cassini's, and it's got an almost unbelievable amount of redundancy.
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Sky and Telescope's July 2004 issue features Saturn (and our "little" robot friend out there)! Beatiful Cassini image of Saturn on the cover 8) .
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Kaptain K wrote:
Yeahbut! No matter how much redundancy is built into the main motor, there is still only one of them. It is nice to know that it works after 5+ years of inactivity.
Cassini actually has a backup main engine, which would kick in automatically if the other engine fails during a burn. The designers pretty much included everything possible except a kitchen sink and a scan platform.
This is my first post to a webboard EVER, so if my posts come out looking strange, that's the reason.
This is a great board. I've been lurking here for about a year.
(Edited once for formatting.)
Order of Kilopi
Welcome to The Board, Philistine, a place where even the most intelligent, correct and complete post may attract a wisecrack who will point out a flaw in it... :P
Not actully a backup engine. The main propulsion system has two engines, but if neccessary, one is enough to do the job. Normally they work in parallel, but they are gimballed so if one fails, the thrust vector of the remaining one could be changed to run through the CG of the probe - otherwise it would be sent into a flat spin.
In the original plan, Cassini even had two scan platforms, which would have been great to do plenty of science in parallel. But due to cost reduction requirements, they were cancelled one by one. Though scan platforms are a possible source of failure, you would still have the backup which is now the only method: orienting the whole craft.The designers pretty much included everything possible except a kitchen sink and a scan platform.
As the BABB is my favourite work-avoidance activity: Any tips how to stay away from here for some time? :-)This is a great board. I've been lurking here for about a year.
Harald
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In the original plan, Cassini even had two scan platforms, which would have been great to do plenty of science in parallel.
a) Get banned. [-XAny tips how to stay away from here for some time?
b) Ruin your computer
c) Write something so embarassing that you don't want to know what people think of it. :P
d) Get involved with a significant other and spend all your free time having ... fun.
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these are false image of the Cassini Huygens mission but I like the picture a lot
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/...huygens006.jpg
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/...aturn31170.jpg
http://www.esrin.esa.it/export/images/31140_L.jpg
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Cassini-Huygens was only 16 million kilometers from Saturn at 09:01:25 UT on 2004-Jun-02.
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By this time next month, Cassini will be at Saturn!
30 days and counting.......
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