Cassini Significant Events 06/03/09 - 06/09/09
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired on June 9 from the
Deep Space Network tracking complex at Canberra, Australia. The Cassini
spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and all subsystems are
operating normally. Information on the present position and speed of the
Cassini spacecraft may be found on the "Present Position" page
at:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/presentposition/.
Wednesday, June 3 (DOY 154)
Science observations for today were few, but ran for long
durations.
Imaging Science (ISS) observed the rotation light curve for Kiviuq, one
of the satellites of Saturn, for 10h34m. The Ultraviolet Imaging
Spectrograph (UVIS) then mosaicked Saturn¹s magnetosphere for 8h, and the
Magnetometer (MAG) performed a regularly scheduled instrument calibration
for 5h40m.
Friday, June 5 (DOY 156)
Late this evening Uplink Operations sent six Instrument Expanded
Block (IEB) files to the spacecraft in support of S51. The remaining
three IEBs will go up late Sunday evening, and the background sequence
will be transmitted Wednesday of next week. S51 begins execution on
Friday, June 12.
Saturday, June 6 (DOY 157):
Today Cassini passed Titan for the T56 flyby with closest approach at
approximately 6:02 PM PDT, traveling at 6 km/sec, an altitude of 968 km,
and latitude 32.1 degrees S. T56 provided the only dusk side observations
at mid-southern latitudes, and the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer
(INMS) took advantage of that, riding along with RADAR at closest
approach. It is also the only time in the mission when the spacecraft
will obtain simultaneous coverage of the dusk side while in the wake
magnetospheric interaction region.
The RADAR instrument captured synthetic aperture RADAR (SAR), outbound
altimetry, scatterometry, and radiometry data during this flyby. The SAR
swath ran parallel to, and partly overlapped, the swath captured in T55,
over Tortola Facula, 'the snail', and down through Shangri-La to high
southern latitudes.
The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) measured distant stratospheric
composition and performed temperature mapping to search for seasonal
changes, and the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) measured
energetic ion and electron energy input to Titan¹s atmosphere.
The Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) rode along with UVIS
for a stellar occultation that will provide information on the
composition of Titan's atmosphere, then rode along with UVIS and CIRS to
observe the south polar region.
ISS rode along with VIMS to observe eastern Tsegihi and to monitor clouds
over Titan's trailing hemisphere at mid-southern latitudes.
UVIS observations at T56 were part of an ongoing sequence to acquire
latitude, phase angle, and time coverage of atmospheric composition,
including Titan¹s haze. UVIS is a box of four telescopes that can see
ultraviolet light. There are three slits each on the Extreme
Ultraviolet
(EUV) and Far Ultraviolet (FUV) telescopes that allow light into the
instrument to be measured. This particular flyby included a stellar
occultation and an EUV/FUV image. The instrument obtained an image 'cube'
of Titan's atmosphere at EUV and FUV wavelengths by sweeping the slit
across the disk. These cubes provide spectral and spatial information on
nitrogen emissions, H emission and absorption, absorption by simple
hydrocarbons, and the scattering properties of haze aerosols. This is one
of many such cubes gathered over the course of the mission to provide
latitude and seasonal coverage of Titan's middle atmosphere and
stratosphere.
As in T55, measurements at T56 by the Magnetometer (MAG) provided a
description of the draping and the pileup of the external magnetic field
around Titan on the night side hemisphere. It also complemented data
obtained at T52, T53, T54 and T55 in order to characterize the background
field for a similar local time with respect to Saturn and different
Saturn Kilometric Radiation longitudes
Finally, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument measured thermal
plasmas in Titan's ionosphere and surrounding environment, searched for
lightning in Titan's atmosphere, and investigated the interaction of
Titan with Saturn's magnetosphere.
For more information on the T56 encounter, link to:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/flybys/titan20090606/
An AACS Periodic Engineering Maintenance activity occurred today.
Performed every 90 days, this activity exercised the main engine gimbal
actuators and the Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) backup wheel RWA-3. For
the RWA wheel, it was commanded to +100 rpm, -100 rpm, 0 rpm, then turned
back off.
Monday, June 8 (DOY 159):
Members of the Cassini Outreach team accepted a 2009 Webby Award for
Best Science website from the International Academy of Digital Arts and
Sciences.
For more information on this award link to:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/newsreleases/newsrelease20090506/
All participating teams submitted files today for the second input port
as part of the S54 Science Operations Plan process.
Today was the birthday of Giovanni Domenico Cassini, born in 1625.
Cassini, namesake of the Cassini orbiter, discovered four moons of Saturn
and the large gap in Saturn's rings, now called the Cassini division. For
more information link to:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=3533
Tuesday, June 9 (DOY 160)
Once a year, NASA honors individuals and groups for managerial and
technical excellence, and outstanding performance on demanding projects
during the year. At a ceremony on the JPL mall today celebrating the 2009
NASA Honor Awards, the following nineteen Cassini teams were recognized
with group achievement awards for their support of the Cassini Saturn
Prime Mission:
Composite Infrared Spectrometer Team
Cosmic Dust Analyzer Team
Cross-Discipline Target Working Team
Imaging Science Team
Interdisciplinary Scientist Team
Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer Team
Magnetometer Team
Magnetospheric Target Working Team
Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument Team
Plasma Spectrometer Team
RADAR Team
Radio and Plasma Wave Science Team
Radio Science Team
Rings Target Working Team
Satellite Orbiter Science Team
Saturn Target Working Team
Saturn Tour Flight Team
Titan Orbiter Science Team
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph Team
Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer Team
In addition, twelve past and current members of the Cassini Flight Team
were awarded individual medals in recognition of their contributions to
the Cassini Project.
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