Cassini Equinox & Solstice Mission, (nine year extension)!!.

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3488

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First Rhea observation of the Cassini Equinox Mission.

 Thursday 3rd July 2008.Andrew Brown.  "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/

http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/this ... anijournal
 
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dragon04

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>First Rhea observation of the Cassini Equinox Mission. &nbsp;Thursday 3rd July 2008.Andrew Brown.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>This is what I love about the way missions like MER, Galileo, Voyager and Cassini were designed, and how robustly the hardware was engineered.</p><p>For a financial bargain, we get to investigate the unknown things that crop up during the initial mission or further investigate the points of original curiosity in greater detail.&nbsp; </p><p>Getting a billion miles out into space is no mean feat. So once we get there, every shred of effort we can get out of a probe makes the original mission more cost-effective, and more importantly, modifying public opinion towards the favorable about space exploration in general.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><font color="#000000"><strong><font size="2">How's this everyone?</font></strong></font></p><p><font color="#000080"><strong><font size="4">Recent close up view of the central portion of the South Polar Vortex. </font></strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/9/41b3f1ae-be15-486e-b992-7c29024c6280.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="4" color="#000080"><strong>Another even CLOSER in view. </strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/12/68cc9991-1113-43b2-acfb-81fd5fa46fbc.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>How's this everyone?Recent close up view of the central portion of the South Polar Vortex. &nbsp;Another even CLOSER in view. &nbsp;Andrew Brown.&nbsp; <br />Posted by 3488</DIV><br /><br />My new desktop....thanx! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">My new desktop....thanx! <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><strong><font size="2">Hi Wayne, glad you like it. I thought the vortex was impressive when Cassini forst found it, but these close up views, WOW. Resolution approx 3.8 KM????</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I just found another gem.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">I afraid that I could not remove the noise, but I found this view of Janus, only 33,000 KM away.</font></strong></p><p><font size="3"><strong><font color="#000080">Janus from 33,000 KM. </font></strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/1/b8ee7e94-dc70-4ee6-a1a0-f0348dfb16c0.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><strong><font size="2">Another, more normal view of Janus from 265,000 KM.</font></strong></p><p><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/7/0895046d-edcb-4dbe-8748-b45106e1780e.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><font size="4">Prometheus tugging on Saturn's F Ring.</font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/12/01eb571e-57bb-4a0a-8cab-e44838e5067f.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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CalliArcale

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>How's this everyone?Recent close up view of the central portion of the South Polar Vortex. &nbsp;Another even CLOSER in view. &nbsp;Andrew Brown.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>DUDE!</p><p>I missed those pics of the south polar vortex when you first posted them.&nbsp; I'm glad I've seen them now, though.&nbsp; Those are AWESOME!!!! </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">DUDE!I missed those pics of the south polar vortex when you first posted them.&nbsp; I'm glad I've seen them now, though.&nbsp; Those are AWESOME!!!! <br /> Posted by CalliArcale</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Hi Calli,</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>They sure are. Soon that area will be slipping into polar darkness. What would be really cool, would be if it would be possible for Cassini tocatch it under a very low sun, so this vortex can be captured like a 'crater'?</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>This too is pretty awesome.</strong></font></p><p><font size="4">Storms in Saturn's mid southern latitude. </font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/8/3/f8599d27-4401-46da-a3e0-5fdc7fd7a747.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><font size="4">First Quarter Dione, Saturn facing side. Monday 21st July 2008.</font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/15/8246cb87-513b-477b-8f16-a64443bc548b.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>So this is what the first quarter Dione would look like from Saturn through a small telescope!!!&nbsp;</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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Swampcat

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>So this is what the first quarter Dione would look like from Saturn through a small telescope!!!&nbsp;Andrew Brown.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dione (IR1, GRN & UV3 filters).</p> <p><img src="http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1518/dione083008jz7.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Image taken from approximately 290k km July 21.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;<font color="#ff0000">Dione (IR1, GRN & UV3 filters). Image taken from approximately 290k km July 21. <br /> Posted by Swampcat</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Thanks Swampcat,</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Intresting to see how Dione has that distinct greenish tinge when imaged in the IR & UV. Wonder what is causing it. The surface appears to be of more or less uniform composition apart from some of the craters & graben. This suggests to me the green tinge is space weathering & the lighter hues more recent exposed ice. I think this shows the the ore ancient side of Dione but there does appear to be what appears to be the possibiliy of Diapirs in the same general area as the graben.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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<p><font size="4">South Polar Vortex. Wednesday 10th September 2008.</font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/11/c0f81fdd-d89c-4991-8b4d-0b74709343b8.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="4">Southern storms September 2008.</font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/6/71e835b6-ecea-434e-a6e6-88e16a764039.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<p>Getting close to the next ENCELADUS Flyby.</p><p>Dan Muller's Real Time simulation page:</p><p>http://www.dmuller.net/realtime/index.php?mission=cassini</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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<p><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#002f58"><td class="dashboard-title">Cassini Status
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

{bump}
 
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3488

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

Mimas, two crescents, one Sunlit other the other Saturnshine.

PIA10589_modest.jpg


Tiny 500 metre wide moon in G Ring. Bringing Saturn's total number of known moons to 61.

PIA11148_fig1.jpg
.

Andrew Brown.
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

That came out rather odd....looks like I created Andrews last post. Perhaps a momentary glitch....
 
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brandbll

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

Is there a solid estimate of how much longer Cassini can last?
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

March 12:

PASADENA, Calif. – Early this morning the Cassini spacecraft relayed information that it had successfully swapped to a backup set of propulsion thrusters late Wednesday.

The swap was performed because of degradation in the performance of the primary thrusters, which had been in use since Cassini's launch in 1997. This is only the second time in Cassini's 11 years of flight that the engineering teams have gone to a backup system.

The thrusters are used for making small corrections to the spacecraft's course, for some attitude control functions, and for making angular momentum adjustments in the reaction wheels, which also are used for attitude control. The redundant set is an identical set of eight thrusters. Almost all Cassini engineering subsystems have redundant backup capability.

Cassini has successfully completed its original four-year planned tour of Saturn and is now in extended mission operations.

More information on the mission is available at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov and http://www.nasa.gov/cassini .
 
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3488

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

Indeed Wayne.

This was a planned activity, prepared for well in advance.

The Cassini spacecraft remains in excellent health & it seems likely that Cassini has yet to reach half way throught it's orbital mission around Saturn, based on spacecraft & intrument performence (degradation is very much slower than was predicted).

I reckon Cassini will still be operating at the Saturn Solstice (Northern Summer, Southern Winter) in May 2017. Diminishing feul IMO will finally end the mission, not hardware failure.

Looks like Cassini will be de orbited into Saturn's atmosphere on Friday 15th September 2017, as Galileo was with Jupiter.

Andrew Brown.
 
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Sedna123

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Cassini

I heard that Cassini is changing its rockets soon and I was wondering how long they would last.
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Cassini Equinox Mission (Cassini's two year extension).

{bump}
 
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MeteorWayne

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Re: Cassini

Sedna123":k15pmlp8 said:
I heard that Cassini is changing its rockets soon and I was wondering how long they would last.

I merged this into the existing thread.

Since the previous thrusters lasted 11 years, the new ones will last far longer than Cassini will :)
 
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3488

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Re: Cassini

MeteorWayne":1thfvnax said:
Sedna123":1thfvnax said:
I heard that Cassini is changing its rockets soon and I was wondering how long they would last.

I merged this into the existing thread.

Since the previous thrusters lasted 11 years, the new ones will last far longer than Cassini will :)

I agree Wayne, at least 11 years, certainly past the Saturn Solstice in May 2017.

Nice view here of a back lit Titan.

Saturn facing side at near enough new phase.

ce1778e1e1222504.jpg


Andrew Brown.
 
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