Cassini starts the first of its 22 final orbits of Saturn today (0900hrs GMT Wednesday) , plunging for the first time between the rings and the planet at 110,000kmh to take a look up close and personal......
Just 22 laps of the planet, on each occasion ducking between the rings until the final plunge into the Saturnalian clouds to be squashed and torn apart by the massive gravity......
Now to cross our fingers and hold our breath until 5.00pm when the spacecraft is supposed to resume contact with Earth. Let's hope it made it. Given how successful this mission has been until now I expect it will be fine and we will get more spectacular results.
Your post, Matt, reminds me of this IMAX video compiled (in 2011) from Cassini's thousands of images when approachng Saturn in 2004: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110315.html
The sound track is Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, often claimed by some to be the saddest music ever written (also used for a program on 9/11 recall) and somehow a poignantly appropriate piece to play for Cassini's farewell.
Your post, Matt, reminds me of this IMAX video compiled (in 2011) from Cassini's thousands of images when approachng Saturn in 2004: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110315.html
The sound track is Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, often claimed by some to be the saddest music ever written (also used for a program on 9/11 recall) and somehow a poignantly appropriate piece to play for Cassini's farewell.
Cheers,
Richard
Thanks Richard !
It really is one of mankind's great achievements. I was lucky to attend a briefing by Dr Linda Spilker, the mission scientist, last year on the mission and the 'Grand Finale' phase Cassini is now in.. Just amazing
