Enceladus Plume Search, Nov. 27 Options

[jmknapp]

Interesting item in the science plan kernel (S16) just released to the NAIF website:

OBSERVATION_ID: S1629

SEQUENCE: S16

OBSERVATION_TITLE: Plume Search

SCIENCE_OBJECTIVE: Hope to detect/observe plumes, whether from volcanic activity or geysers.

OBS_DESCRIPTION: Point and stare.

SUBSYSTEM: ISS

PRIMARY_POINTING: ISS_NAC to Enceladus (0.0,5.0,0.0 deg. offset)

REQUEST_ID: ISS_018EN_PLUMES001_PRIME

REQUEST_TITLE: ENCELADUS Geyser/Plume Search

REQ_DESCRIPTION: 1;ENCELADUS Geyser/Plume Search 1x1xNPp -- 3 different exposures

BEGIN_TIME: 2005 NOV 27 19:00:00 UTC

END_TIME: 2005 NOV 27 20:00:00 UTC

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

That last quote was actually a misinterpretation by Emily Lakdawalla of what Spilker told her, which is that there was some evidence from particle distribution that the E Ring particles were coming off Enceladus as a whole rather than from the vents. That particular theory very quickly became inoperative; it's the vents, all right.

What I can't yet discover is whether the stuff being spewed from them is a water/ammonia mixture (as would have seemed logical), or just plain water. I'm still trying to get clarification on this, but Cassini seems to be indicating that much more of the nitrogen of Saturn's moons is instead in the form of HCN than had been previously been believed.

[mars loon]

What I can't yet discover is whether the stuff being spewed from them is a water/ammonia mixture (as would have seemed logical), or just plain water.  I'm still trying to get clarification on this, but Cassini seems to be indicating that much more of the nitrogen of Saturn's moons is instead in the form of HCN than had been previously ben believed.

That is the key question. Are ammonia, HCN, organics present?

Thats the scientific justification for NASA/ESA sending a lander/penetrator to Enceledus in a follow on mission to the Saturnian system