The most recent
spacecraft tracking and telemetry data were collected March 7 using
the Deep Space Network's 34 meter Beam-Waveguide Station 25 at
Goldstone in the California desert. The Cassini spacecraft is in an
excellent state of health. All subsystems are operating normally
except for the issues being worked with the Cassini Plasma
Spectrometer and the Ultrastable Oscillator. 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/.
Twice this week,
Cassini rotated to point its Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS),
Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), and Visual and Infrared
Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) telescopes toward Saturn's largest
satellite for more Titan Monitoring Campaign observations. At other
times, the instruments were pointed toward Saturn for the Ultraviolet
Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) and ISS to measure and monitor the
planet's aurorae.
Wednesday, Feb. 29
(DOY 060)
UVIS surveyed the abundance of interplanetary hydrogen by remote sensing from 2.4 million kilometers above Saturn.
Commands were sent to
the spacecraft to do a "live" update of the running Inertial
Vector Propagator. This ensures best instrument pointing for an
observation of Saturn's large icy satellite Rhea next week.
Thursday, March 1
(DOY 061)
Apoapsis passage early
today (Universal Time) marked the start of Cassini's 162nd orbit of
Saturn. Having slowed to 5,463 kilometers per hour relative to the
planet, the spacecraft begins its nine-day plunge, still in the
equatorial plane, gathering speed on its arc back toward
Saturn.
Friday, March 2 (DOY
062)
The Cosmic Dust Analyzer made direct measurements of interstellar dust particles as they interacted with the instrument. ISS carried out an 18-hour observation of the outer irregular satellite Thrymr to measure the rotational phase curve.
The feature "Cassini Detects Hint of Fresh Air at Dione" was posted online: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cassinifeatures/feature20120302/
The Attitude and
Articulation Control Subsystem executed a Reaction Wheel Y-Bias
maneuver to adjust wheel speeds while Cassini was off Earth
point.
Saturday, March 3
(DOY 063)
The spacecraft rolled
about its Z axis to perform a Magnetometer (MAG) calibration. There is
an animation of a typical MAG roll here:
http://1.usa.gov/xlYR7U
Sunday, March 4 (DOY
064)
Still some 2.2 million kilometers from Saturn, UVIS again surveyed the hydrogen in interplanetary space.
Cassini rolled for several hours to perform another MAG calibration, this time keeping its High-Gain Antenna dish trained on Earth to maintain two-way communications.
Commands for Orbit Trim
Maneuver 312 were uplinked to the spacecraft using Deep Space Station
14 at Goldstone, California. The maneuver will execute March 9, but
was uplinked early as a precaution; there would be a heavy delta-V
cost if it were delayed.
Monday, March 5 (DOY
065)
Commands for the
Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) are still being issued from the S72
background sequence that is running, but since the instrument is
turned off, there are no results. Pending the outcome of a review next
week, it may be possible to turn CAPS back on before the sequence
ends.
Tuesday, March 6
(DOY 066)
Cassini passed 717,800 kilometers from Titan on its way inbound toward Saturn; this occurred during a Deep Space Network tracking pass.
An "Insider's Cassini" article, "How to Plan Your Flyby" was published here:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cassiniinsider/insider20120306/
------------------------
To unsubscribe from Cassini Spacecraft Updates or to subscribe with a different email address, visit:
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/mailinglistsignup/ >
------------------------
This email address is not monitored. For comments and questions, please contact Cassini Outreach at:
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/feedback/>
------------------------
Visit the JPL Cassini
home page for more information about the Cassini Project:
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/>
------------------------
