Space and Ground Facilities Ltd.
Space and Ground Facilities Ltd.
The Cassini Orbiter’s mission consists of delivering a probe (called Huygens and provided by ESA) to Titan, and then remaining in orbit around Saturn for detailed studies of the planet and its rings and satellites. The principal objectives are to determine the three-dimensional structure and dynamic behaviour of the rings; to study the composition of the satellite surfaces and the geological history of each object; to determine the nature and origin of the dark material on Iapetus’ leading hemisphere; to measure the three-dimensional and dynamic behaviour of the magnetosphere; to determine the dynamic behaviour of Saturn’s atmosphere at cloud level; to study the variability of Titan’s clouds and hazes in time; and to characterise Titan’s surface on a regional scale. Twelve science instruments are carried by the orbiter. Our human resources participated in the development of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) and of the Dual Technique Magnetometer (MAG) instruments. In both cases, the orbiter simulators (as EGSEs) were developed by our team members, as employees of KFKI RMKI.
CAPS includes an ion mass spectrometer providing species-resolved measurements of the flux of positive atomic and molecular ions as a function of energy/charge vs. aperture entry direction; an ion beam spectrometer that measures the flux of positive ions of all species as a function of energy/charge and entry direction; and also an electron spectrometer to measure the flux of electrons as a function of energy/charge and entry direction.
The Dual Technique Magnetometer (MAG) is a direct sensing Instrument that measures the strength and direction of the magnetic fields around Saturn. The magnetic fields are generated partly by the intensely hot molten core at Saturn’s center. Measuring the magnetic field is one of the ways to probe the core, even though it is far too hot and deep for an actual visit. Magnetometers are direct sensing instruments that detect and measure the strength of magnetic fields in the vicinity of the spacecraft. MAG consists of a vector/scalar helium magnetometer sensor, a flux-gate magnetometer sensor, a data processing unit, and three power supplies, plus operating software and electronics associated with the sensors.
On 14 January 2005, the Huygens probe successfully landed on the Titan and transmitted measurement data and images to Cassini from where they were sent to the Earth. It is no exaggeration to state that this successful mission represents a milestone in the history of space research.
CAPS includes an ion mass spectrometer providing species-resolved measurements of the flux of positive atomic and molecular ions as a function of energy/charge vs. aperture entry direction; an ion beam spectrometer that measures the flux of positive ions of all species as a function of energy/charge and entry direction; and also an electron spectrometer to measure the flux of electrons as a function of energy/charge and entry direction.
The Dual Technique Magnetometer (MAG) is a direct sensing Instrument that measures the strength and direction of the magnetic fields around Saturn. The magnetic fields are generated partly by the intensely hot molten core at Saturn’s center. Measuring the magnetic field is one of the ways to probe the core, even though it is far too hot and deep for an actual visit. Magnetometers are direct sensing instruments that detect and measure the strength of magnetic fields in the vicinity of the spacecraft. MAG consists of a vector/scalar helium magnetometer sensor, a flux-gate magnetometer sensor, a data processing unit, and three power supplies, plus operating software and electronics associated with the sensors.
On 14 January 2005, the Huygens probe successfully landed on the Titan and transmitted measurement data and images to Cassini from where they were sent to the Earth. It is no exaggeration to state that this successful mission represents a milestone in the history of space research.
CAPS and MAG instruments of Cassini spaceprobe
CAPS sensore
MAG sensore
Spacecraft interface simulators (Mil-1553)
