Satellite tour design for the Cassini missionThe mission design for the Cassini satellite tour of Saturn is described. The use of Titan encounters for gravity-assisted trajectory shaping to satisfy atmosphere, magnetosphere, and satellite science requirements is discussed. Three candidate satellite tours that illustrate the tradeoffs between different strategies to satisfy the science objectives are presented. Tour characteristics for a 4yr mission include at least 30 Titan encounters to provide a minimum of 90 deg orbit rotation for either a magnetotail petal orbit or noon petal orbit; evenly distributed Titan ground tracks for radar mapping coverage; at least 2 Iapetus and 1 Enceladus close flybys; inclined orbits during the first 3 yr to provide Earth and Sun occultations by Saturn and its rings; and Polar orbits during the fourth year.
Document ID
19860019405
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Diehl, R. E. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: ESA The Atmospheres of Saturn and Titan
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Workshop on Solid Bodies of the Outer Solar System