Cassini space probe -- AMIGA Astronomy

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Subject: Cassini space probe

Author:
Blobrana

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Date Posted: 07:36:20 06/30/04 Wed

The Cassini space probe is all set to begin its four-year mission to Saturn - to study the ringed planet and the many moons that move under its influence.
Cassini will pass through a gap in those famous rings before making an engine burn to slow it down enough to enter an orbit around the gas giant.
The burn starts at 0336BST on 1 July, with the probe's main engine turned towards the direction of travel. The braking manoeuvre ends at 0512BST, with Cassini in an elliptical orbit.
The Saturn orbit insertion (SOI) will mark the end of a seven-year journey across the Solar System for the $3bn spacecraft. On its voyage, Cassini performed four gravity-assist fly-by manoeuvres to help carry it to the sixth planet from our Sun.
As it prepares to insert into Saturn's orbit, the probe will approach the planet from below the plane of its ring system and cross it through a large gap between the "F ring" and the "G ring".
Before passing through, Cassini will point its high-gain antenna in the direction of travel. This 4m-wide solid disc will shield the spacecraft's delicate components from any particles of debris it may encounter on the way through.

(fingers crossed.)

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