July 30th 05, 01:14 AM
Cassini Significant Events
for 07/21/05 - 07/27/05
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired Wednesday, July 27,
from
the Goldstonetracking stations. The Cassini spacecraft is in an
excellent
state of health and is operating normally. Information on the present
position and speed of the Cassini spacecraft may be found on the
"Present
Position" web page located at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/present-position.cfm .
Activities this week:
Thursday, July 21 (DOY 202):
The live IVP update kick-off meeting for DOY 212 was held today.
Targets
listed in the kick-off package are Mimas, Dione, Rhea, Saturn, and
Tethys.
Additional rocks being observed during the update period are Pallene,
Atlas,
Janus, Epimetheus, Pan, Pandora, Telesto, and Prometheus.
A special meeting was held today to present the results of a study
comparing
the actual data volume used by the science instruments, against the
data
volume allocated to the instrument in the data policing tables. This
study
is the result of work done by Science Planning and looks specifically
at the
S08 and S10 sequences. It is anticipated that the Target Working Teams
and
Orbiter Science Teams will work with the instrument teams to better
optimize
the bit allocations.
The Solar Conjunction separation angle reached two degrees today. With
the
Sun between the spacecraft and Earth, Cassini has entered a period of
communications degradation lasting approximately seven days. Science
this
week was limited to Magnetospheric and Plasma Science instruments, as
they
took measurements of both the bow shock and magnetopause to study their
structure in detail.
Cassini Outreach presented a Saturn Observation Campaign workshop,
which
included "how to plan a school star party". Twenty five new Los
Angeles
area NASA Explorer School teachers attended, then held their own star
party
and observed the night sky.
Friday, July 22 (DOY 203):
A really nice shot of Tethys with Saturn is Astronomy Picture of
theSunday, July 24 (DOY 205):
Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) observed a strong solar Type II
burst
at ~15 hr UT on July 24 (DOY 205). This Type II is probably from solar
active region AR0786 that is on the backside of the Sun as seen from
Earth
but front side for Cassini. This region has been extremely active over
the
past several weeks. SOHO reports a full backside halo CME at the
appropriate light time corrected to account for the RPWS observation.
Estimated launch speed is 3000 km/sec.
The shock, if it propagates to 9 AU, is predicted to arrive at Saturn
August
2-4, with an arrival date of August 4 for minimum deceleration
conditions.
The big uncertainty on this one is the launch speed since it's backside
and
only a flank is visible in the image. The WIND/WAVES team measured the
same
radio burst from 1 AU and got a slower shock speed of 1750 km/sec
instead of
3000 km/sec, which means that the shock would not reach Saturn until
about 6
August.
Monday, July 25 (DOY 206):
An end-to-end test was run in the Integrated Test Laboratory this week
using
the 050505 reference trajectory to test flight software patches for CDS
and
AACS, the Titan 7 flyby, a representative orbit trim maneuver, and
other
changes.
In mid-August we will test the Titan 7 portion again with the new
050720
reference trajectory released on July 18. The Spacecraft Operations
Office
plans to uplink both patches in the early September timeframe.
The final sequence approval meeting for S13 was held. Uplinks of the
Instrument Expanded Block files and the background sequence will begin
on
July 27.
JPL has put out a news release regarding Cassini's observations of the
radio
emissions of Saturn. Apparently the emissions are quite eerie, could
be
mistaken for a Halloween sound track, and are descriptive of a
phenomenon
similar to Earth's northern lights according to findings published in
the
July 23 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters. The full news
release
along with samples of the sounds can be viewed/heard at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
Tuesday, July 26 (DOY 207):
No new waiver requests have been submitted for the S14 preliminary
sequence
phase 1, so the waiver disposition meeting scheduled for today was
cancelled.
Reaction Wheel status at launch + 7.8 years, a status report on Langley
atmospheric drag simulations for Titan flybys, and a summary of Radio
Science requests for DSN tracking submitted for 2006 were discussed at
a
Mission Planning Forum held today.
The S15 Science and Sequence Update Process (SSUP) Kickoff Meeting was
held
this morning. Following the meeting the stripped subsequence files
were
published to the program file repository for team review.
Day
today.
The Encounter Strategy Meeting for Enceladus 2 through Titan 6 and OTMs
26
through 28 occurred today.
Saturday, July 23 (DOY 204):
Minimum Sun-Cassini separation angle of 0.3 degrees occurred today.
Apoapsis occurred marking the start of Cassini's 12th orbit around
Saturn.
Sunday, July 24 (DOY 205):
Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) observed a strong solar Type II
burst
at ~15 hr UT on July 24 (DOY 205). This Type II is probably from solar
active region AR0786 that is on the backside of the Sun as seen from
Earth
but front side for Cassini. This region has been extremely active over
the
past several weeks. SOHO reports a full backside halo CME at the
appropriate light time corrected to account for the RPWS observation.
Estimated launch speed is 3000 km/sec.
The shock, if it propagates to 9 AU, is predicted to arrive at Saturn
August
2-4, with an arrival date of August 4 for minimum deceleration
conditions.
The big uncertainty on this one is the launch speed since it's backside
and
only a flank is visible in the image. The WIND/WAVES team measured the
same
radio burst from 1 AU and got a slower shock speed of 1750 km/sec
instead of
3000 km/sec, which means that the shock would not reach Saturn until
about 6
August.
Monday, July 25 (DOY 206):
An end-to-end test was run in the Integrated Test Laboratory this week
using
the 050505 reference trajectory to test flight software patches for CDS
and
AACS, the Titan 7 flyby, a representative orbit trim maneuver, and
other
changes.
In mid-August we will test the Titan 7 portion again with the new
050720
reference trajectory released on July 18. The Spacecraft Operations
Office
plans to uplink both patches in the early September timeframe.
The final sequence approval meeting for S13 was held. Uplinks of the
Instrument Expanded Block files and the background sequence will begin
on
July 27.
JPL has put out a news release regarding Cassini's observations of the
radio
emissions of Saturn. Apparently the emissions are quite eerie, could
be
mistaken for a Halloween sound track, and are descriptive of a
phenomenon
similar to Earth's northern lights according to findings published in
the
July 23 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters. The full news
release
along with samples of the sounds can be viewed/heard at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
Tuesday, July 26 (DOY 207):
No new waiver requests have been submitted for the S14 preliminary
sequence
phase 1, so the waiver disposition meeting scheduled for today was
cancelled.
Reaction Wheel status at launch + 7.8 years, a status report on Langley
atmospheric drag simulations for Titan flybys, and a summary of Radio
Science requests for DSN tracking submitted for 2006 were discussed at
a
Mission Planning Forum held today.
The S15 Science and Sequence Update Process (SSUP) Kickoff Meeting was
held
this morning. Following the meeting the stripped subsequence files
were
published to the program file repository for team review.
JPL put out an additional press release this week regarding unusual
geology
observed on Enceladus during the flyby last week. Detailed images of
the
South Polar Region reveal distinctive geological features and the most
youthful terrain seen on that moon. These findings point to a very
complex
evolutionary history. To review the images and the text of this press
release go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
An image of spongy looking Hyperion was Astronomy Picture of the day
today.
Cassini Outreach was interviewed for a new local Public Broadcast radio
show
called "After Sunset" which aired July 26.
Cassini exited the period of solar conjunction today. Separation angle
reached 4 degrees and the final non-operational commands were sent for
purposes of link characterization. Instrument real-time commanding and
science acquisition - put on hold for the last seven days - will now
recommence at pre-conjunction levels.
Wednesday, July 27 (DOY 208):
A Delivery Coordination Meeting was held for Telecom Forecaster
Predictor
Version 4.0. Although there were a number of changes, the most
significant
ones were updated DSN station models to include the new X/X/Ka feed.
Science Planning hosted a Cassini internal Tour Science Talk covering
Iapetus and Enceladus data, and Iapetus formation.
Uplink Operations sent five instrument expanded block files to the
spacecraft in preparation for the start of S13 execution. Based on SSR
memory read-outs, it was verified that the spacecraft properly received
all
the loads.
Wrap up:
Check out the Cassini web site at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov for the
latest
press releases and images.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the
European
Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, a
division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages
the
Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate,
Washington,
D.C. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter.
for 07/21/05 - 07/27/05
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired Wednesday, July 27,
from
the Goldstonetracking stations. The Cassini spacecraft is in an
excellent
state of health and is operating normally. Information on the present
position and speed of the Cassini spacecraft may be found on the
"Present
Position" web page located at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/present-position.cfm .
Activities this week:
Thursday, July 21 (DOY 202):
The live IVP update kick-off meeting for DOY 212 was held today.
Targets
listed in the kick-off package are Mimas, Dione, Rhea, Saturn, and
Tethys.
Additional rocks being observed during the update period are Pallene,
Atlas,
Janus, Epimetheus, Pan, Pandora, Telesto, and Prometheus.
A special meeting was held today to present the results of a study
comparing
the actual data volume used by the science instruments, against the
data
volume allocated to the instrument in the data policing tables. This
study
is the result of work done by Science Planning and looks specifically
at the
S08 and S10 sequences. It is anticipated that the Target Working Teams
and
Orbiter Science Teams will work with the instrument teams to better
optimize
the bit allocations.
The Solar Conjunction separation angle reached two degrees today. With
the
Sun between the spacecraft and Earth, Cassini has entered a period of
communications degradation lasting approximately seven days. Science
this
week was limited to Magnetospheric and Plasma Science instruments, as
they
took measurements of both the bow shock and magnetopause to study their
structure in detail.
Cassini Outreach presented a Saturn Observation Campaign workshop,
which
included "how to plan a school star party". Twenty five new Los
Angeles
area NASA Explorer School teachers attended, then held their own star
party
and observed the night sky.
Friday, July 22 (DOY 203):
A really nice shot of Tethys with Saturn is Astronomy Picture of
theSunday, July 24 (DOY 205):
Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) observed a strong solar Type II
burst
at ~15 hr UT on July 24 (DOY 205). This Type II is probably from solar
active region AR0786 that is on the backside of the Sun as seen from
Earth
but front side for Cassini. This region has been extremely active over
the
past several weeks. SOHO reports a full backside halo CME at the
appropriate light time corrected to account for the RPWS observation.
Estimated launch speed is 3000 km/sec.
The shock, if it propagates to 9 AU, is predicted to arrive at Saturn
August
2-4, with an arrival date of August 4 for minimum deceleration
conditions.
The big uncertainty on this one is the launch speed since it's backside
and
only a flank is visible in the image. The WIND/WAVES team measured the
same
radio burst from 1 AU and got a slower shock speed of 1750 km/sec
instead of
3000 km/sec, which means that the shock would not reach Saturn until
about 6
August.
Monday, July 25 (DOY 206):
An end-to-end test was run in the Integrated Test Laboratory this week
using
the 050505 reference trajectory to test flight software patches for CDS
and
AACS, the Titan 7 flyby, a representative orbit trim maneuver, and
other
changes.
In mid-August we will test the Titan 7 portion again with the new
050720
reference trajectory released on July 18. The Spacecraft Operations
Office
plans to uplink both patches in the early September timeframe.
The final sequence approval meeting for S13 was held. Uplinks of the
Instrument Expanded Block files and the background sequence will begin
on
July 27.
JPL has put out a news release regarding Cassini's observations of the
radio
emissions of Saturn. Apparently the emissions are quite eerie, could
be
mistaken for a Halloween sound track, and are descriptive of a
phenomenon
similar to Earth's northern lights according to findings published in
the
July 23 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters. The full news
release
along with samples of the sounds can be viewed/heard at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
Tuesday, July 26 (DOY 207):
No new waiver requests have been submitted for the S14 preliminary
sequence
phase 1, so the waiver disposition meeting scheduled for today was
cancelled.
Reaction Wheel status at launch + 7.8 years, a status report on Langley
atmospheric drag simulations for Titan flybys, and a summary of Radio
Science requests for DSN tracking submitted for 2006 were discussed at
a
Mission Planning Forum held today.
The S15 Science and Sequence Update Process (SSUP) Kickoff Meeting was
held
this morning. Following the meeting the stripped subsequence files
were
published to the program file repository for team review.
Day
today.
The Encounter Strategy Meeting for Enceladus 2 through Titan 6 and OTMs
26
through 28 occurred today.
Saturday, July 23 (DOY 204):
Minimum Sun-Cassini separation angle of 0.3 degrees occurred today.
Apoapsis occurred marking the start of Cassini's 12th orbit around
Saturn.
Sunday, July 24 (DOY 205):
Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) observed a strong solar Type II
burst
at ~15 hr UT on July 24 (DOY 205). This Type II is probably from solar
active region AR0786 that is on the backside of the Sun as seen from
Earth
but front side for Cassini. This region has been extremely active over
the
past several weeks. SOHO reports a full backside halo CME at the
appropriate light time corrected to account for the RPWS observation.
Estimated launch speed is 3000 km/sec.
The shock, if it propagates to 9 AU, is predicted to arrive at Saturn
August
2-4, with an arrival date of August 4 for minimum deceleration
conditions.
The big uncertainty on this one is the launch speed since it's backside
and
only a flank is visible in the image. The WIND/WAVES team measured the
same
radio burst from 1 AU and got a slower shock speed of 1750 km/sec
instead of
3000 km/sec, which means that the shock would not reach Saturn until
about 6
August.
Monday, July 25 (DOY 206):
An end-to-end test was run in the Integrated Test Laboratory this week
using
the 050505 reference trajectory to test flight software patches for CDS
and
AACS, the Titan 7 flyby, a representative orbit trim maneuver, and
other
changes.
In mid-August we will test the Titan 7 portion again with the new
050720
reference trajectory released on July 18. The Spacecraft Operations
Office
plans to uplink both patches in the early September timeframe.
The final sequence approval meeting for S13 was held. Uplinks of the
Instrument Expanded Block files and the background sequence will begin
on
July 27.
JPL has put out a news release regarding Cassini's observations of the
radio
emissions of Saturn. Apparently the emissions are quite eerie, could
be
mistaken for a Halloween sound track, and are descriptive of a
phenomenon
similar to Earth's northern lights according to findings published in
the
July 23 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters. The full news
release
along with samples of the sounds can be viewed/heard at
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
Tuesday, July 26 (DOY 207):
No new waiver requests have been submitted for the S14 preliminary
sequence
phase 1, so the waiver disposition meeting scheduled for today was
cancelled.
Reaction Wheel status at launch + 7.8 years, a status report on Langley
atmospheric drag simulations for Titan flybys, and a summary of Radio
Science requests for DSN tracking submitted for 2006 were discussed at
a
Mission Planning Forum held today.
The S15 Science and Sequence Update Process (SSUP) Kickoff Meeting was
held
this morning. Following the meeting the stripped subsequence files
were
published to the program file repository for team review.
JPL put out an additional press release this week regarding unusual
geology
observed on Enceladus during the flyby last week. Detailed images of
the
South Polar Region reveal distinctive geological features and the most
youthful terrain seen on that moon. These findings point to a very
complex
evolutionary history. To review the images and the text of this press
release go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
An image of spongy looking Hyperion was Astronomy Picture of the day
today.
Cassini Outreach was interviewed for a new local Public Broadcast radio
show
called "After Sunset" which aired July 26.
Cassini exited the period of solar conjunction today. Separation angle
reached 4 degrees and the final non-operational commands were sent for
purposes of link characterization. Instrument real-time commanding and
science acquisition - put on hold for the last seven days - will now
recommence at pre-conjunction levels.
Wednesday, July 27 (DOY 208):
A Delivery Coordination Meeting was held for Telecom Forecaster
Predictor
Version 4.0. Although there were a number of changes, the most
significant
ones were updated DSN station models to include the new X/X/Ka feed.
Science Planning hosted a Cassini internal Tour Science Talk covering
Iapetus and Enceladus data, and Iapetus formation.
Uplink Operations sent five instrument expanded block files to the
spacecraft in preparation for the start of S13 execution. Based on SSR
memory read-outs, it was verified that the spacecraft properly received
all
the loads.
Wrap up:
Check out the Cassini web site at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov for the
latest
press releases and images.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the
European
Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, a
division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages
the
Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate,
Washington,
D.C. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter.