How many times have we heard that over the years? The TV guys make it sound so easy.
But the reality is much more diffficult, especially when you are watching from more than halfway across the solar system.
Spacecraft Cassini Enters Saturn's Orbit(AP)
Cassini Spacecraft Enters Saturn's Orbit Between Two of Its Rings
...
A carefully choreographed maneuver allowed Cassini to be captured by Saturn's gravity as it arced within 12,500 miles of the giant planet's cloud tops.
Using its big radio dish as a shield against small particles, the spacecraft ascended through a gap between two of the rings, then spun around and fired its engine for more than 1 1/2 hours to slow its acceleration.
The craft then rotated again to place its shielding antenna in front as it descended back through the gap.
Since the craft was over 900 million miles away, all JPL could do was watch, and hope that Cassini-Huygens worked as advertised. It did so, by flying between two of Saturn's rings.
Good on ya, guys!
You can find more information about Cassini-Huygens here, as well as the latest images.
(This is cross-posted from The Gantry Launchpad)
Too cool. I want the colored pictures too... I'm just sooooo excited... (Imagine little child)...
I love the website verbage "are we there yet" etc.
Sounds like they're having a blast.
I don't suppose that now is the time to point out that Geordi LaForge, and later Ensign Crusher, were at the helm, not Data?
--|PW|--
It's such a relief to know that my kid's video game prowess could someday land them a job. I was beginning to lose hope...
Not only will it land him a great job, but if you ever need a wireless network, he'll be able to do that too.
Ordered wireless from cable company. They came out and couldn't do it. Son said, "let me see" after the 'experts' had left and had it up and running in ten minutes. Complete network at home.
All those hours of Mario from the age of 5 and other video games and the computer finally paid off. Gotta love that!
What would a standard orbit look like? To my mind, there are several objectives that would determine the nature of this orbit:
1. Maximization of planetary surface exposure, to maximize sensor time.
2. Transporter and/or shuttlecraft limitations, in case an emergency evacuation of surface personnel were required.
3. Personal communicator range/Doppler limits
4. Minimization of power draw for station-keeping.
5. Optimization of sun angle, to account for anomalous radiation from a planet's sun, as well as sensor optimization for reflection/scattering science.
Obviously, not all objectives can be satisfied simultaneously. Obj. 1 argues for a low polar orbit. Obj 5 also argues for a polar orbit w/ constant sun angle (for radiation protection), but a low equatorial orbit would be better for radiation science, since you would get a full range of scattering/occultation angles. Obj 4 seems best suited to a L4/L5 orbit. This may be too far to satisfy Objs 2 and 3, which seem best suited to a geostationary orbit.
beautiful. Splendid. High and noble. Thank you.