The spacecraft "Cassini" that accomplished many discoveries about Saturn came to an end, and finally, after going through the ring of Saturn, in September 2017 evaporation in the atmosphere of Saturn

ByPublic Domain

NASA's Saturn probe which was launched in 1997 and has been on the date of exploration for 20 yearsCassiniIt is about to reach the final moment. On April 22, 2017, we made a final approach to Saturn's satellite "Titan", after that we surveyed through a 22-degree lap including a course passing between Saturn's ring and Saturn, On September 15th, we are supposed to enter the atmosphere of Saturn and finish its whole life.

Cassini: Mission to Saturn: Cassini Heads Toward Final Close Encounter with Titan
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/3027/cassini-heads-toward-final-close-encounter-with-titan/

Cassini called official name "Cassini · Huygens" is a Saturn probe that has been developed and operated by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched in 1997 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base Florida Air Force Base 40 launch pad in the USA, aimed at Saturn with several swing-bys, successfully launched into Saturn's orbit on June 30, 2004. After that, the planetary explorer "Huygens probe"To lift the satellite Titan to gather precious data, and satelliteEnceladusDiscovered that it is actively blowing up the plume of ice, first observing the state of the hexagonal jet air current existing in Saturn's North Pole for the first time, discovering the huge hurricane of Saturn Bipolar, etc., various science We have led the discovery.


Such Cassini will carry out the 127th and final fly-by to Titan at 15:08 on Saturday, April 22, 2017, Japan time of Japan time, and will collect the data of the last Titan. A mysterious island floating in the methane lake of ice on Titan's surface using the radar · mapper installed in the aircraft "Magic IslandWhile collecting topographical data, measure the air density of Titan by collecting samples of ions and neutral particles present around the Titan using an ion-neutral mass spectrometer.


And by the last flyby to Titan, Cassini 's orbit will be influenced by the gravitational force of Titan, and it will transition to orbit around Saturn. After changing the orbit, take a trajectory orbiting Saturn 22 times, fly by passing through Saturn's ring and do the last data collection.


After that, Cassini will enter Saturn's atmosphere at the end of the 22nd lap and welcome the final moment "Grand Finale". In the following movies, Cassini's trail and Cassini's appearance with Grand Finale are drawn.

CASSINI'S GRAND FINALE on Vimeo


Cassini, who has been carrying out the mission for 20 years, is finally about to reach the final moment when the fuel to control the aircraft has run out.


Cassini was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base on October 15, 1997 and began a long journey to Saturn.


Cassini which repeated "swing bye" which accelerates by using the attraction of the planet was put on Saturn's orbit on June 30, 2004.


On January 14, 2005, the Huygens probe that was onboard successfully landed on the satellite "Titan".


On September 10, 2007, satellites with the feature that the surface is very clearly divided between dark and bright partsIapetusApproaching the survey.


On July 8, 2009, we confirmed that liquid exists in Titan.


On October 28, 2015, we discovered that the satellite "Enceladus" is actively blowing up an ice plume.


And Cassini will challenge the final investigation mission of Saturn itself.


On April 26, 2017, the curtain of "Grand Finale" opens.


In the final mission, Cassini carried out valuable investigations that he could not have done so far. It passes between Saturn's ring and Saturn and collects data near Saturn.


That data should be valuable which no one could ever get. It is expected to obtain valuable insight to know the origin of Saturn's ring.


Saturn is a gas planet with a diameter of about 9 times that of the Earth. It may be like this ring from such Saturn. Cassini is the artificial thing that approached Saturn most closely so far.


And in the lap of the 22nd lap, Cassini will close that lifetime. A strong force will be applied to the aircraft entering Saturn's atmosphere and flying at high speed.


Even under such circumstances, Cassini is programmed to always point the antenna to the Earth, and we will continue to send valuable Saturn's atmosphere data obtained until the last moment to Earth.


When the altitude goes down, the friction with the atmosphere gradually increases ...


Cassini's body can not bear heat and collapse begins.


And on September 15, 2017, Cassini will finally get scattered and evaporate and become part of the atmosphere of Saturn and will finish his whole life.