Cassini Update - October 2, 2008
- From: baalke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:27:42 -0700 (PDT)
Cassini Significant Events
for 09/24/08 - 09/30/08
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired on Sept. 30 from
the Deep Space Network tracking complex at Madrid, Spain. 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/operations/present-position.cfm.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 (DOY 268):
The Optical Remote Sensing (ORS) instrument teams and the Science
Planning team have all confirmed that live update #3 for Saturn and
Tethys on DOY 275-277 is not required and may be cancelled.
An AACS friction test of the backup reaction wheel (RWA) #3 was
completed Sept. 23. For this test, performed every six months, the
RWA is spun up to 600 rpm in both the clockwise and counterclockwise
directions and timed as it is allowed to run down to zero. Results,
compared with the previous friction test performed on this wheel on
Apr. 6, showed no significant changes.
An encounter strategy meeting was held today to review the period
between Oct. 9 and Nov. 3, the Enceladus 5 and 6 flybys, Titan 46,
and maneuvers 167-169.
Science activities today began with VIMS observing the bright star
Gamma Crucis as it was occulted by the rings. This was followed by a
downlink to Madrid, then VIMS scanning the unlit side of the rings,
and UVIS observing a stellar-ring occultation. The day finished with
a unique observation of Tethys as it passed through Saturn
eclipse. All ORS instruments took data, with CIRS having prime
pointing control to observe the thermal response of Tethys as it
passed into Saturn's shadow.
Thursday, Sept. 25 (DOY 269):
Non-targeted flybys of Tethys, Atlas, Pan, and Pallene occurred today.
Today began with the spacecraft passing through periapsis, the point
where the spacecraft is closest to Saturn for this orbit. During
periapsis, Magnetospheric and Plasma Science (MAPS) instruments
collected data at increased rates to observe the auroral
magnetosphere and Saturn Kilometric Radiation source region. Later,
when the spacecraft turned to Earth to play back data to Goldstone,
Radio Science transmitted Ka-band frequency data to characterize the
Saturn gravity field.
Friday, Sept. 26 (DOY 270):
Heading away from periapsis, Friday began with a small satellite
orbit determination activity. Then the ORS instruments used a
relatively close Rhea encounter to acquire moderate resolution
imaging data for geologic mapping. During the middle part of the day
the spacecraft transmitted data back to Earth, and for the last part
of the day ISS took data for an approximately10 hour ring movie to
search for possible spokes and periodicities.
Monday, Sept. 29 (DOY 273):
Cassini Outreach, the JPL Education Office, the Laboratory for
Atmospheric and Space Physics, and Cassini mission engineers and
scientists will be participating in an educator workshop from Sept.
29 through Oct. 6 in Tennessee. The purpose of the workshop is to
test the next iteration of language arts "Through the Eyes of a
Scientist" with educators, the Eastern Tennessee State University
Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education, and the
International Storytelling Center.
All sequence participants delivered Port 3 files as part of the S47
Science Operations Plan Implementation process. A merge of all
submitted files has been performed, and Science Planning analysis of
the merge will be available Sept. 30.
Tuesday, Sept. 30 (DOY 274):
Over the weekend the ORS instruments performed a coordinated
observation of the icy moon Mimas, taking data for longitudinal and
phase coverage, and spectroscopy data to measure composition. Today
the spacecraft is operating quietly out near apoapsis beginning with
a 9-hour downlink to Madrid after which ISS performed a small
satellite orbital determination activity. The cameras then turned
towards Titan to continue the cloud monitoring campaign. The day's
activities finished with an approximately 12 hour medium resolution F
ring movie.
Visit the JPL Cassini home page for more information about the
Cassini Project: < http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/>
.
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