NASA's Cassini Saturn Mission's Finale:
"Something Unexpected is Awaiting Discovery"
"What else did you expect, Baby?"
Posted on 07/25/2017 9:47:51 PM PDT by MtnClimber
As NASA's Cassini spacecraft makes its unprecedented series of weekly dives between Saturn and its rings, scientists are finding—so far—that the planet's magnetic field has no discernable tilt. This surprising observation, which means the true length of Saturn's day is still unknown, is just one of several early insights from the final phase of Cassini's mission, known as the Grand Finale.
Other recent science highlights include promising hints about the structure and composition of the icy rings, along with high-resolution images of the rings and Saturn's atmosphere. Cassini is now in the 15th of 22 weekly orbits that pass through the narrow gap between Saturn and its rings. The spacecraft began its finale on April 26 and will continue its dives until Sept. 15, when it will make a mission-ending plunge into Saturn's atmosphere.
"Cassini is performing beautifully in the final leg of its long journey," said Cassini Project Manager Earl Maize at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. "Its observations continue to surprise and delight as we squeeze out every last bit of science that we can get."
Cassini scientists are thrilled as well—and surprised in some cases—with the observations being made by the spacecraft in the finale. "The data we are seeing from Cassini's Grand Finale are every bit as exciting as we hoped, although we are still deep in the process of working out what they are telling us about Saturn and its rings," said Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker at JPL.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailygalaxy.com ...
It is amazing that we can send a spacecraft so far away and so precisely. The radio signals take so long to cross the span.
NASA's Cassini Saturn Mission's Finale:
"Something Unexpected is Awaiting Discovery"
"What else did you expect, Baby?"
It was launched in Oct. 1997 - 20 years ago.
Also from 1997:
“Apple Computer introduces the PowerBook 2400c notebook computer. It features 180 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, 1.3 GB hard drive, 10.4-inch active-matrix color display, two PC Card slots. Weight is 4.4 pounds; price is to be about US$3500.”
Norman Fell.
I’m one of the mission controllers for Cassini at JPL...the current one-way light time is: 1 H 16 M.
I’m one of the mission controllers for Cassini at JPL...the current one-way light time is: 1 H 16 M.
I was on the design team for the ISS. Frankly, watching it in orbit, even now, is better than sex. Lasts longer, too.
I remember being up around 4 in the morning to watch it launch. It’s doesn’t seem that long ago.
Beneath Saturn’s clouds there lies a Silva lining.
Just checked with the website heavens-above.com. Saturn is currently about 858 million miles away. It was at opposition on June 15th of this year.
This must be an exciting time for you, as Cassini nears the end of its mission.
I wish they could figure out what those rings are made out of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raG9PRbtDJA
LOL
(and double LOL)
Reminds me of how NASA has been writing the word "SEX" in the clouds on some of the admittedly fake "blue marble" earth composites (fake photos) both from 2012 and 2015.
Triple LOL
Sorry. Meant my post 15 (above) for you.
Debbie, also called the Bloop after the only sound it ever made, is a chimpanzee-like character on the Lost in Space television series. Debbie first appeared in season one in the episode "Island in the Sky." Debbie is a native of the planet Priplanus and was discovered after the Jupiter 2 crashed there. She was found by Don and given to Penny. Debbie also appeared in a number of season two episodes; she is shown in cameos in a couple of season three episodes, but these scenes are clearly footage from earlier episodes.
Debbie was played by Judy the Chimp; probably best remembered for her role on the TV series "Daktari."
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