NASA Cassini Significant Events 12/29/10 – 01/04/11
The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired on Jan. 4 from the Deep Space Network tracking complex at Canberra, Australia. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and all subsystems are operating normally. Information on the present position and speed of the Cassini spacecraft may be found on the “Present Position” page at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/presentposition/.
Wednesday, Dec. 29 (DOY 363)
A feature story called “Cassini Celebrates 10 Years Since Jupiter Encounter” is available on the Cassini web site. It describes how ten years ago, on Dec. 30, 2000, the Cassini spacecraft made its closest approach to Jupiter on its way to Saturn. The main purpose was to use the gravity of the largest planet in our solar system to slingshot Cassini towards Saturn, its ultimate destination. But the encounter with Jupiter, Saturn’s gas-giant big brother, also gave the Cassini project a perfect lab for testing its instruments and evaluating its operations plans for its tour of the ringed planet, which began in 2004. For more information on this subject link to: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cassinifeatures/feature20101229/
Thursday, Dec. 30 (DOY 364)
Today is the tenth anniversary of the Cassini flyby of Jupiter on Dec. 30, 2000.
Friday, Dec. 31 (DOY 365)
The Downlink Ground System (DGS) team successfully completed deployment of the Operations User Data Monitor and Display (DMD) alarm files as part of the Mission Control, Data Management & Spacecraft Analysis (MDAS) Multi-mission delivered software.
Saturday, Jan. 1 (DOY 001)
Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #273 was performed today. This was an apoapsis maneuver setting up for the Rhea 3 encounter on Jan. 11. The Reaction Control Subsystem (RCS) burn began at 12:00 AM PST. Telemetry immediately after the maneuver showed a burn duration of 191.25 seconds, giving a delta-V of 0.209 m/s. All subsystems reported nominal performance after the maneuver.
Monday, Jan. 3 (DOY 003)
This week the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) completed several 13.5 hour and 15 hour interstellar dust observations. Imaging Science (ISS) performed another observation in its Satellite Orbit Determination campaign. The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) performed a 12 hour observation to measure oxygen compounds in Saturn’s stratosphere and a 23 hour observation to determine upper troposphere and tropopause temperature.
Tuesday, Jan. 4 (DOY 004)
The S69 sequence Engineering Activities Review took place today. At this review, Spacecraft Office personnel take a look at all spacecraft activities to be performed during this upcoming sequence. Port 2 products were due today as part of the S68 Sequence Implementation Process (SIP). The products will be merged and sent out to the flight team for review.
