NASA Cassini Spacecraft

Technology Report

Nicole IwakiITMG 100 05

What is the Cassini Spacecraft?

• Ongoing project by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Launch date on October 15th, 1997• It’s mission is to conduct detailed studies of

Saturn, its rings, icy satellites, magnetosphere and Titan.

• Cassini Solstice Mission

• http://www.topnews.in/files/NASA-Cassini-spacecraft.jpg

Overview of its mission• It’s major expedition has been the Cassini Solstice

Mission• It has specific technology and instruments to help

complete its tasks.Optical Remote Sensing Fields, Particles and

WavesMicrowave Remote Sensing

Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS)

Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS)

Radar

Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA)

Radio Science (RSS)

Ultraviolet Imaging Spectograph (UVIS)

Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS)

Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VMIS)

Magnometer (MAG)

Magnetosperic Imaging

Composite Infrared Spectrometer

• CIRS• Using heat to create a picture• Features: Far Far-Infrared Focal Plane. Mid –

Infrared Focal Plane, Mid-Infrared Focal Plan

Imaging Science Subsystem

• ISS• Converts the variety of electric and magnetic

fields into a solid picture that gives us a better idea of what is found in that area.

• One wide-angle camera and one narrow-angle camera.

Ultraviolet Imaging Spectograph

• UVIS• Analyze environment through the use of UV

lights• Pick your own colors, since human eye

cannot see• Images from Cassini Spacecraft

References• Background: http://

images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/010/cache/merging-galaxies_1083_600x450.jpg?01AD=3TAJdBdFKK2NLyVkBD9Tn-tMOo_qixlwVFuE7njbdUXh-0mPoCUw9Mg&01RI=932A3CF7D3F0031&01NA=

• Link, Slide 2:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/multimedia/gallery/gallery-index.html

• Image, Slide 3: http://www.topnews.in/files/NASA-Cassini-spacecraft.jpg• Link, Slide 7: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/spacecraft/index.html• http://www.space.com/7865-cassini-saturn-probe-7-year-life-extension.html• http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/cassiniorbiterinstruments/instrumentscassinicirs/• http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/cassiniorbiterinstruments/instrumentscassiniiss/• 5http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/cassiniorbiterinstruments/

instrumentscassiniuvis/