Cassini Weekly Significant Events 18-24 Jan 2001

The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired from the Madrid tracking station on Wednesday, January 24.  The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and is operating normally.  The speed of the spacecraft can be viewed on the "Present Position" web page ( "http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/english/where/" )
 
Science activities included Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) dust stream collection, Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVIS) / Hubble Space Telescope auroral observations, Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) atmosphere observations, Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) housekeeping memory readout, and Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) calibrations.  Engineering activities included Command & Data Subsystem (CDS) SSR automatic repair for both SSR A and B, Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) momentum unload, Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem (AACS) Clear High Water Marks, and clearing of CDS error logs.
 
The Probe Relay Test mini-sequence and CAPS Power On mini-sequence for C24 were released this week.  All populated Spacecraft Activity Sequence Files for C25 have been received from the core members of the Sequence Virtual Team (SVT).  The inputs have been merged in order to build an integrated sequence.  A Project briefing was held this week for Cruise 26.  The plan for this sequence has now been approved for implementation.
 
The Cassini Instrument Operations (IO) Team and the Multi Mission Image Processing Laboratory have produced and delivered 20,740 ISS images – 14,076 from the NAC and 6,664 from the Wide Angle Camera – and 4,689 Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) cubes since Jupiter encounter began.
 
JPL was the site of the January Cassini Project Science Group (PSG) meeting.  Plenary sessions, working groups, tutorials and "Brown Bag Lunch" science presentations were held this week and will continue into next week.
 
Concurrent with the PSG, Instrument Operations coordinated training for over 20 classes and 60 team members allowing newer Cassini team members to obtain training as well as allowing an opportunity for enrichment for existing staff.  The classes were presented by a cross section of Cassini teams covering topics from JPL Security Policies, Cassini’s Internal SOS Service, and a Voice Net Tutorial – Mission Support and Services Office, Sequence Virtual Team Introduction and Hands on – Uplink Operations, Instrument Flight Software Deliveries, and Problem Reporting  – System Engineering, Anomaly Response – System Engineering and Instrument Operations, and an E-Kernel Introduction – Instrument Operations.  In addition, a number of classes were provided by JPL organizations, UNIX and Distributed Object Manager – Telecommunications and Mission Operations Directorate (TMOD), Receivable/Deliverable Software – the Project Planning & Management Information Systems Group from Division 31, and Spacecraft, Planet, Instruments, C-matrix, and Events kernels (SPICE) – Navigation Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF).
 
Cassini Mission Assurance recently sponsored a Risk Management Training Workshop.  This workshop was conducted to familiarize the Flight Team with the Cassini Risk Management Process.  During an interactive session, inputs were gathered and incorporated into the process.  Brainstorming activity during the workshop has initiated the process to document and collect potential risks to the Cassini Program.  Results include a draft Risk Management Plan and an initial risk list.  Follow-up sessions will be scheduled in the near future.
 
A Delivery Coordination Meeting was held for Cassini Information Management System (CIMS) 1.0.  The software has been approved for use and operations installation will begin soon.
 
Cassini 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, Calif., manages the Cassini mission for NASA’s Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C.
 
Cassini Outreach
Cassini Mission to Saturn and Titan
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
National Aeronautics and Space Administration