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Cassini ran through the 'big empty' | Cassini ran through the 'big empty' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The American space agency says the Cassini satellite encountered very few particles as it dived between Saturn and its rings last week. | The American space agency says the Cassini satellite encountered very few particles as it dived between Saturn and its rings last week. |
There were fears that the probe might hit fragments of ice or rock, and that these could cause significant damage. | There were fears that the probe might hit fragments of ice or rock, and that these could cause significant damage. |
Cassini made the plunge with its radio dish pointing forward like a shield. | Cassini made the plunge with its radio dish pointing forward like a shield. |
But the latest analysis indicates there were hardly any impacts and those particles the probe did strike were only smoke-sized. | But the latest analysis indicates there were hardly any impacts and those particles the probe did strike were only smoke-sized. |
"The region between the rings and Saturn is 'the big empty,' apparently," commented Cassini project manager, Earl Maize, of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. | "The region between the rings and Saturn is 'the big empty,' apparently," commented Cassini project manager, Earl Maize, of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. |
"Cassini will stay the course, while the scientists work on the mystery of why the dust level is much lower than expected." | "Cassini will stay the course, while the scientists work on the mystery of why the dust level is much lower than expected." |
The outcome is good news because four of the remaining gap-runs that Cassini will execute before terminating its mission in September will edge even closer to Saturn’s inner D-ring. | The outcome is good news because four of the remaining gap-runs that Cassini will execute before terminating its mission in September will edge even closer to Saturn’s inner D-ring. |
These manoeuvres also are expected to see the probe lead with its antenna in the shield configuration. | These manoeuvres also are expected to see the probe lead with its antenna in the shield configuration. |
But last Wednesday’s experience means controllers can now approach these events with increased confidence. | |
Cassini is booked to make a further 21 plunges through the 3,000km-wide opening between the planet's cloudtops and the D-ring, with the next occurring at 19:38 GMT On Tuesday. | Cassini is booked to make a further 21 plunges through the 3,000km-wide opening between the planet's cloudtops and the D-ring, with the next occurring at 19:38 GMT On Tuesday. |
The dives are designed to return data of unprecedented resolution on the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s interior. | |
They should also allow the probe to weigh the rings, which will give scientists their best estimate yet for the age of these spectacular bands. | |
Currently, no-one is quite sure whether the rings are as old as the planet or are a relatively recent phenomenon, the result perhaps of a break-up of a moon or even a comet that got too close to the giant world. | Currently, no-one is quite sure whether the rings are as old as the planet or are a relatively recent phenomenon, the result perhaps of a break-up of a moon or even a comet that got too close to the giant world. |
Nasa intends to dump Cassini in the atmosphere of Saturn on 15 September. | Nasa intends to dump Cassini in the atmosphere of Saturn on 15 September. |
After 20 years in space, the satellite is running low on fuel and controllers want to be sure there is no possibility of a future collision with the moons of Titan and Enceladus, which could conceivably support simple microbial life. | After 20 years in space, the satellite is running low on fuel and controllers want to be sure there is no possibility of a future collision with the moons of Titan and Enceladus, which could conceivably support simple microbial life. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |
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