Cassini Significant Events — for 10/13/05 – 10/19/05

Cassini Significant Events -- for 10/13/05 - 10/19/05

October 21, 2005

(Source: Cassini Project)

The Composite Infrared Spectrometer began a weeklong flight software checkout on Friday, October 14. Status as of Wednesday is that all is progressing well.


All participating teams delivered the necessary files for the S18 sequence official input port for the Science Operations Plan update process.


An encounter strategy meeting was held for the Titan 8 through Rhea 1 flybys. This meeting covers the period from October 28 through November 26, and Orbit Trim maneuvers 41-43.


Team members from the Spacecraft Operations Office presented Titan atmosphere tumbling densities for Titan 16-23 at the Mission Planning forum this week. This is phase A of a two-part discussion on what densities are safe for close Titan flybys. Part two, covering T24-T45, will be presented on November 15.


An image advisory of Dione set against the stunning backdrop of Saturn was released this week. Like most of its counterparts in the Saturnian system, Dione shows a heavily cratered surface. It has a signature style all its own that includes streaky terrains dominating one whole side of the moon. To view the text of the release and associated images and movie go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov.


Cassini Outreach presented an evening of star and moon gazing at the October 13 Wild Rose Elementary School PTA picnic in Monrovia, CA. Over 300 participants enjoyed a picnic and American Indian storytelling before heading out to the telescopes for views of the nearly full moon, Venus and the bright stars overhead.

Satarn Breathnu Feachtas Offig Na Eireann, or, the Saturn Observation Campaign Irish Office recently gave a talk about the Cassini flybys of Enceladus at the annual astronomy Whirlpool Star party at Birr Castle, Ireland. In addition to material gleaned from the monthly Cassini Project Science Office CHARM Presentations and Enceladus image captions, this active volunteer also made a realistic model of Enceladus starting with a soccer ball, paint, clay and a lot of inspiration from the Cassini images of the icy world Enceladus.


The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired Wednesday, October 19, from the Madrid tracking complex. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and all subsystems are operating normally. Check out the Cassini web site at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov for the latest press releases and images.