Page 96 - BBC Knowledge - October 2017 IN

In focus
Cassini

COMING WITHIN 22 ORBITS
1,012 MILES IN TOTAL
of Saturn’s clouds
(1,628 kilometres)
MPH TOP SPEED
76,806
PASSING THROUGH A GAP RELATIVE TO SATURN
1,500 MILES WIDE (123,608 kph)
(2400 kilometres)

5 PASSES 4 PASSES
THROUGH SATURN’S THROUGH SATURN’S
UPPER ATMOSPHERE intermost ring (D ring)

ONE FINAL PLUNGE ONE MINUTE FROM
INTO SATURN (atmosphere entry)
(September 15, 2017) TO LOSS OF CONTACT

CASSINI

(October 15, 1997 – September 15, 2017)
WORDS: MOSHITA PRAJAPATI

Cassini, the exploratory spacecraft, is set to plunge to its death on September 15, 2017. Its demise will
mark the end of one of the most successful space exploratory missions in human history.
The $1.5bn machine will be seen hurtling at a speed of 113,000km/h onto Saturn’s surface, where it
will be broken into a million pieces, the frictional heat vaporizing its many components beyond
recognition. Given its enduring significance in space exploration history, it seems a sad way to go.
Cassini was introduced to the world on October 15, 1997, when it was launched into space to orbit
around Saturn, one of the gaseous giants in our Universe. During its orbital period around Saturn and
flybys around Jupiter and Venus, Cassini has clicked and sent back an astounding 400,000 photos –
all of which have helped us better understand the planets in our little corner of the vast space that is
the Universe.
The demise of Cassini was imminent. In service for more than 20 years, its rocket thrusters were
running low on fuel, making it difficult to steer from Earth. This euthanisation was undertaken to
prevent Cassini from crashing into one of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus. Enceladus is one of the most
promising environments in the Solar System for finding extra terrestrial life, and any alien
microorganism could contaminate the environment for future explorations.

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