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Saturn Craft Approaches Ringed Planet After 7 Years in Space
Bloomberg ^ | 6/3/2004 | Alex Morales

Posted on 06/03/2004 9:35:07 AM PDT by Pyro7480

Edited on 07/19/2004 2:14:19 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

June 3 (Bloomberg) -- The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, a European-U.S. project, is approaching Saturn after a journey of almost seven years and on July 1 is scheduled to become the first manmade object to orbit the ringed planet.

The Cassini orbiter and Huygens probe were launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral on Oct. 15, 1997. The orbiter will study Saturn, its 31 moons, rings and magnetic environment. The probe will detach from Cassini in six months to descend to one of the moons. For scientists at London's Imperial College, the insertion of the craft into orbit represents ``the most critical moment of the mission,'' according to an e-mailed statement.


(Excerpt) Read more at quote.bloomberg.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cassini; crevolist; huygens; jpl; nasa; saturn; space; titan
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To: StriperSniper; kidd; Two Thirds Vote Aye; Molly Pitcher
We have a freeper who worked on this project....the engines I believe.

Hey Thirds.....take a bow buddy!

21 posted on 06/03/2004 10:09:15 AM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Dog

22 posted on 06/03/2004 10:10:54 AM PDT by bmwcyle (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/" target="_blank">miserable failure)
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To: Pyro7480

NASA has a 67 page PDF press pack with some good info:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-kits/cassini-arrival.pdf


23 posted on 06/03/2004 11:06:47 AM PDT by alnitak ("That kid's about as sharp as a pound of wet liver" - Foghorn Leghorn)
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To: RadioAstronomer; PatrickHenry

ringed ping


24 posted on 06/03/2004 11:30:39 AM PDT by longshadow
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To: alnitak

Thanks! I learned something new about Saturn in the process. The "gap" the Cassini probe is going through is expansive, since the G-ring is so far out comparatively-speaking to the rest.


25 posted on 06/03/2004 11:34:39 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix.... sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper...)
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To: Question_Assumptions

See posts #23 and 25.


26 posted on 06/03/2004 11:35:11 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix.... sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper...)
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To: VadeRetro; jennyp; Junior; longshadow; RadioAstronomer; Physicist; LogicWings; Doctor Stochastic; ..

Science list ping (a subset of the evolution list). FReepmail me to be added or dropped.


27 posted on 06/03/2004 11:41:15 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Hic amor, haec patria est.)
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To: Pyro7480
Cassini will approach the planet from the south

From the south?? Where is south in outer space???

28 posted on 06/03/2004 12:01:27 PM PDT by oldcomputerguy
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To: oldcomputerguy

I guess that means towards Saturn's southern hemisphere.


29 posted on 06/03/2004 12:03:09 PM PDT by Pyro7480 (Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix.... sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper...)
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To: oldcomputerguy

Most of the planets have spin alignments something crudely like Earth's. Also, most planets orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane. Thus, you can assign North and South poles comparable to the poles of Earth. One of the outer guys is lying over spinning practically on its side. I'm not sure how "North" and "South" were arrived at in that case.


30 posted on 06/03/2004 12:08:39 PM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: martin_fierro

Thanks...placemarker to come back for your goodies.


31 posted on 06/03/2004 12:16:47 PM PDT by Ahban
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To: VadeRetro
I'm not sure how "North" and "South" were arrived at in that case.

"North" is defined using the good old "right hand rule." If you curl the fingers of your right hand in the direction of the rotation of the body, your right thumb will be pointing along the angular momentum vector, and thus, by definition, "north." Try it.

32 posted on 06/03/2004 12:23:27 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: oldcomputerguy

North, south, east, and west are a little different on the planets than on earth. The tradition possibly got started with the use of telescope that inverted the image, but the west side of the moon, for example is the same direction as the west on earth. While north and south are aligned with earth's north and south, east and west got reversed on the planets if you should one day be standing on planets. We have a very earth-centered view of the solar system that ought to be confusing to astronauts for the rest of time.


33 posted on 06/03/2004 12:28:41 PM PDT by RightWhale (Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
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To: Pyro7480
Can't wait!

Saturn Bump.

34 posted on 06/03/2004 12:31:00 PM PDT by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Pyro7480

7-year bump


35 posted on 06/03/2004 12:38:17 PM PDT by pghkevin (Have you hugged your kids today? Have you thanked someone in the Military today?)
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To: Pyro7480

Looking forward to this. BTTT


36 posted on 06/03/2004 12:42:06 PM PDT by Brett66
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To: r9etb
... the good old "right hand rule."

Ouch! Should have known.

37 posted on 06/03/2004 12:44:30 PM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: Centurion2000; Ahban

Absolutely, positively try out that Celestia software. MINDBLOWING! <|:)~


38 posted on 06/03/2004 2:16:24 PM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: Pyro7480
4 p.m. London time on July 1,

Saturn is in Gemeni right now so wouldn't that mean on/by July 1st it's going to be behind the sun? So how are they going to get a transmittion?

39 posted on 06/03/2004 5:55:16 PM PDT by qam1 (Tommy Thompson is a Fat-tubby, Fascist)
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To: qam1
Gemeni Gemini
40 posted on 06/03/2004 5:58:03 PM PDT by qam1 (Tommy Thompson is a Fat-tubby, Fascist)
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