Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 30, 2004 5:56:47 GMT -6
Approach and Arrival at Saturn
After the long interplanetary cruise from Jupiter the Cassini-Huygens spacecraftwill make a rapid flyby of the moon Phoebe on 11 June 2004. This flyby will bring the spacecraft to within 2000 km of the surface of the moon and is the only chance the spacecraft will have to image in high resolution an outer moon.
During the rapid flyby Cassini will collect spectroscopic and radar data along with images of the surface. This information could help scientisits understand the composition and origin of this distant moon. Initial images, already twice as good as any image returned by Voyager 2, show large craters and variation in surface brightness.
Following the flyby a trajectory correction manouvre will be made on 16 June 2004 to place the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft on a precise intercept course with Saturn
Arrival at Saturn
On 1 July 2004 the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft will arrive at Saturn. This will mark the end of the spacecraft's journey through the Solar System as well as the beginning of its tour of Saturn, its rings, moons, and magnetosphere.
Cassini-Huygens will approach Saturn from below the ring plane. The spacecraft will cross through the large gap between the F-Ring and G-Ring. At this time Cassini-Huygens will be 158 500 kilometres from Saturn's centre. This crossing will occur one hour and 52 minutes prior to the spacecraft's closest approach to Saturn.
The main engine burn begins shortly after Cassini-Huygens has crossed above the rings. The burn will begin on 1 July 2004 at 01:12 UTC and end 97 minutes later at 02:49 UTC.
More at the European Space Agency site: sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=34955
The site also has a great time table to keep track.