Barnstorming Over Enceladus
Editor’s note: According to NASA sources Cassini’s flyby of Saturn’s moon Enceladus occurred today around noon Pacific time.
As scheduled, no contact was made with the spacecraft until around 7:00 PM PST today. Science data collection was been completed and Cassini has reoriented itself so as to point at Earth and play back the data that was collected. This playback will continue until tomorrow afternoon.
Early science results may be available Thursday afternoon.
Cassini Spacecraft to Dive Into Water Plume of Saturn Moon
“NASA’s Cassini spacecraft will make an unprecedented “in your face” flyby of Saturn’s moon Enceladus on Wed., March 12. The spacecraft, orchestrating its closest approach to date, will skirt along the edges of huge Old-Faithful-like geysers erupting from giant fractures on the south pole of Enceladus. Cassini will sample scientifically valuable water-ice, dust and gas in the plume.”
