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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
JPL-Caltech
Explanation:
Cassini is being prepared to dive into Saturn.
The robotic spacecraft that has been orbiting and exploring Saturn for over a decade
will
end its mission
in September with a spectacular atmospheric plunge.
Pictured
here is a diagram of
Cassini's remaining orbits,
each taking about one week.
Cassini is scheduled
to complete a few months of orbits that will take it just outside Saturn's outermost
ring F.
Then, in April,
Titan will give
Cassini
a gravitational pull into Proximal orbits, the last of which, on September 15, will
impact Saturn and
cause
the spacecraft to implode and melt.
Cassini's Grand Finale orbits are designed to
record data and first-ever
views from
inside the rings -- between
the rings and planet -- as well as some
small moons interspersed in the rings.
Cassini's demise is
designed
to protect
any life that may occur around
Saturn or its moons from
contamination
by Cassini itself.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: cassini spacecraft - Saturn
Publications with words: cassini spacecraft - Saturn
See also: