The Cassini-Huygens Mission
to Saturn and Titan
Josh Colwell
LASP, University of Colorado
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph
(UVIS) Co-Investigator
Lots for Cassini to Study
Cassini’s 5 groups of science objectives at Saturn are:
Saturn - the planet and
its atmosphere
Magnetosphere
Saturn’s extensive Rings
Icy Satellites
Titan
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The largest interplanetary craft ever built…
VVEJGA Trajectory as Flown
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Where to go when we get there
Cassini’s path at
Saturn as seen
from above
Saturn’s North
Pole.
Cassini’s path at
Saturn as seen
from Saturn’s
Equatorial plane.
Titan’s atmosphere issues a challenge to
Cassini. The surface awaits….
June 14, 2004. 10.4 million km. 62 km/pixel.
Strange Spokes
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Waves are abundant in
Saturn’s rings. The ripples
are caused by gravity from
nearby moons.
Two views of a narrow, eccentric, kinky ring
in a gap.
Approach picture from
Cassini:
May 21, 2004
Dist: 15.7 million km.
Pixel: 132 km.
Approach picture from
Cassini:
May 10, 2004
Dist: 27 million km.
Pixel: 161 km.
Moon: Prometheus
Compare to resolution
of ring pictures from
tonight: 100 meters!
Computer
simulation of
clumps in
Saturn’s A
ring.
Will Cassini
see them?
Simulations: Carolyn Porco and Derek Richardson
X marks the spot of
ring plane crossing.
G and E rings not
visible due to picture
contrast.
Cassini’s View of Saturn Orbit Insertion
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Our Observations Tonight
View of SOI from Earth
Huygens Mission
Release: 24 Dec 2004
Landing: 14 Jan 2005
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Moons are Big Ring Particles