Cassini

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Cassini

Class: Planetary. Type: Outer Planets. Destination: Outer Planets. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, ESA, ASI. Manufacturer: JPL.

The Cassini spacecraft was a scientific platform designed to perform an in-depth study of the Saturnian system. After insertion into its orbit about Saturn in 2004, Cassini performed detailed studies of Saturn's atmosphere, magnetosphere, rings and several of its moons. Chief among the goals was a thorough characterization of the large moon, Titan. Titan's surface was mapped using synthetic aperture radar. Its atmosphere and surface was investigated by the ESA built Huygens probe that was released from Cassini and descended to Titan's surface via parachute. Scientists and engineers from the US and 16 European countries participated in the mission.

The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized; power was supplied by 3 RTG (628W at EOM); a 4 meter high gain antenna supported S-, X-,Ku-, Ka-band signals, and X-band telemetry at 249 kbps. Two backup low gain antennas were provided for emergency commanding. The spacecraft had dual redundant flight computers; dual redundant 445N gimbaled main engines (burning N2O4, MMH), 16 hydrazine ACS thrusters; redundant star sensors, sun sensors, HRG IRUs, reaction wheels; active thermal control using RHUs, heaters, louvers; redundant solid-state recorders; and a high level of spacecraft autonomy and fault protection

The experiments carried aboard the Cassini orbiter included:

Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS)
Cassini Radar
Radio Science Subsystem (RSS)
Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS)
Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS)
Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS)
Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA)
Radio and Plasma Wave Spectrometer (RPWS)
Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS)
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS)
Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI)
Dual Technique Magnetometer (MAG)

The 2.7 meter diameter Huygens probe was deployed by three pyrotechnic release bolts. The heat shield protected the probe during reentry and used AQ60 material developed by Aerospatiale. Three parachutes were used to control final descent. Huygens was equipped with a redundant S-band link (8 kbps max), lithium sulfur-dioxide (LiSO2) primary batteries, and a radar altimeter. The Huygens probe experiments included:

Descent Imager and Spectral Radiometer
Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument
Gas Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer
Aerosol Collector Pyrolyzer
Surface Science Package
Doppler Wind Experiment.

Cassini had a $ 3.4 billion total program costs, including the US Orbiter at $ 1.4 billion; the ESA/Aerospatiale Huygens probe at $ 422 million. and the Titan IVB K32 launch at $ 450 million.

Design Life: 7 years. Typical orbit: 2 flybys of Venus, Jupiter flyby, Saturn orbit. Length: 6.70 m (21.90 ft). Maximum Diameter: 4.00 m (13.10 ft). Associated Launch Vehicle: Titan 4B.

Cassini Chronology

1997 October 15 - Cassini - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Titan.
En route Venus

1997 October 15 - Huygens - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Titan.

1998 April 26 - Cassini Venus Flyby -

1999 June 24 - Cassini, second Venus Flyby -

1999 August 18 - Cassini, Earth Flyby -

2000 December 30 - Cassini, Jupiter Flyby -

2003 September 10 - Cassini makes course correction. -
The Cassini probe to Saturn made a course correction burn at 2000 UTC, changing its velocity by 0.12m/s. At the time Cassini was 1284 million km from the Sun, in an orbit of 1.4462 AU x 9.2769 AU with an inclination of 0.81 deg to the ecliptic plane and the correction altered the orbit by about ten parts per million. On September 14 Cassini was 137 million km from Saturn; Saturn's nominal gravitational sphere of influence is 55 million km in radius and Cassini was to reach that point on 2004 March 10, 2004. The probe was to make a 2000 km flyby of the Saturnian moon Phoebe on June 11, 2004.

2004 June 11 - Cassini, Phoebe Flyby, Successful -

2004 June 30 - Cassini, Saturn Orbit Insertion, Successful -

2004 August 23 - Cassini, Periapsis Raise Maneuver (OTM-2), Successful -

2004 October 26 - Cassini, first Targeted Titan Flyby, Successful -

2004 November 20 - Cassini, Post Titan A Apoapsis Maneuver (OTM-6), Successful -

2004 November 23 - Cassini, Huygens Probe Checkout, Successful -

2004 December 13 - Cassini, second Titan Flyby, Successful -

2004 December 15 - Cassini, Dione Flyby, Successful -

2004 December 24 - Cassini, Huygens Probe Release, Successful -

2004 December 31 - Cassini, Iapetus Flyby, Successful -

2005 January 14 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2005 January 14 - Huygens Probe Lands on Titan, Successful -

2005 February 15 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 February 17 - Cassini, Enceladus Flyby, Successful -

2005 March 9 - Cassini, Enceladus & Tethys Flyby, Successful -

2005 March 31 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2005 April 16 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 May 21 - Cassini, Enceladus Non-Targeted Flyby, Successful -

2005 July 14 - Cassini, Enceladus Flyby, Successful -

2005 August 2 - Cassini, Mimas Non-Targeted Flyby, Successful -

2005 August 22 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 September 7 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 September 24 - Cassini, Tethys Non-Targeted Flyby, Successful -

2005 September 26 - Cassini, Hyperion Flyby, Successful -

2005 October 11 - Cassini, Dione Flyby, Successful -

2005 October 28 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 October 28 - Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful -

2005 November 26 - Cassini, Rhea Flyby -

2005 December 26 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 January 15 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 February 27 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 March 19 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 March 31 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 April 30 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 May 20 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 July 2 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 July 22 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 September 7 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 September 23 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 October 9 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

2006 October 25 - Cassini, Titan Flyby -

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