Ission Report 2019 1
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CASSINI FINAL MISSION REPORT 2019 1 IMAGING SCIENCE SUBSYSTEM The Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) consisted of both a wide-angle and a narrow-angle digital camera specifically designed for exploring the Saturn system. The science objectives included capturing lightning, investigating three-dimensional cloud structure and meteorology of Saturn’s and Titan’s atmospheres, imaging the surfaces of icy satellites, determining the composition and structure of Saturn’s enormous ring system, and peering through the hazy Titan atmosphere to study its surface. The two cameras were able to capture beautiful images of the Saturn system as well, which inspired the public. In addition to acquiring scientific images, the cameras were also used for optical navigation to refine the knowledge of the spacecraft’s trajectory and the position of the satellites. Each camera included optics, two filter wheels, a shutter and detector head, plus their electronics. The cameras were sensitive to visible wavelengths of light and to some infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. The filters for each camera were mounted on wheels to select the wavelengths to be sampled in each image. They were also capable of filtering for linear polarization. 2 VOLUME 1: MISSION OVERVIEW & SCIENCE OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS CONTENTS IMAGING SCIENCE SUBSYSTEM .................................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary................................................................................................................................................ 4 ISS Instrument Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Key Objectives For ISS Instrument ........................................................................................................................ 6 Cassini Early Mission (2004–2010) ............................................................................................................. 6 Saturn and Titan atmospheres .......................................................................................................... 6 Titan surface ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Rings ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Icy satellite objectives ........................................................................................................................ 7 Cassini Solstice Mission (2010–2017) ......................................................................................................... 8 ISS Science Assessment ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Saturn and Titan Atmospheres .................................................................................................................... 8 Titan Surface ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Rings .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Icy Satellites ............................................................................................................................................... 10 ISS Saturn System Science Results .................................................................................................................... 11 Titan ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Enceladus .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Plume .............................................................................................................................................. 14 Body and surface ............................................................................................................................ 16 Main Icy Satellites (except Enceladus) ...................................................................................................... 20 Mid-sized icy moons overview ......................................................................................................... 20 Mimas .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Tethys .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Dione ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Rhea ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Iapetus ............................................................................................................................................. 24 Satellite Orbits (including OpNav) and Orbital Evolution ........................................................................... 26 Small Satellites .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Phoebe and the Irregular Satellites ............................................................................................................ 28 Phoebe ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Other irregular satellites .................................................................................................................. 29 Saturn ........................................................................................................................................................ 30 Rings .......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Open Questions for Saturn System Science ............................................................................................. 40 Titan (summarized in Nixon et al. [2018]) ........................................................................................ 40 Enceladus ........................................................................................................................................ 40 Main icy satellites (except Enceladus) ............................................................................................ 42 Satellite orbits and orbital evolution ................................................................................................. 45 Small satellites ................................................................................................................................ 45 Phoebe and the irregular satellites .................................................................................................. 45 Saturn .............................................................................................................................................. 46 Rings ............................................................................................................................................... 47 ISS Non-Saturn Science Results .......................................................................................................................... 48 Jupiter Atmosphere and Rings ................................................................................................................... 48 CASSINI FINAL MISSION REPORT 2019 3 Jupiter/Exoplanet Studies .......................................................................................................................... 50 Jupiter Satellites ......................................................................................................................................... 51 Open Questions for Non-Saturn Science ................................................................................................... 51 Jupiter’s atmosphere ....................................................................................................................... 51 Jupiter/exoplanet studies ................................................................................................................. 52 Jupiter’s satellites ............................................................................................................................ 52 Science Objectives and Traceability Matrices ...................................................................................................... 53 Acronyms.............................................................................................................................................................. 78 References ........................................................................................................................................................... 79 Figures Figure ISS-1. Cassini ISS narrow-angle camera. ............................................................................................................