Cassini image database & updates, And notifications of PDS data releases Options

[Bjorn Jonsson]

I have noticed that the January 1, 2007 Cassini PDS release is already available, see http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/data/cassi...assini_orbiter/

I haven't downloaded all of the imaging data and I'm just beginning to digest what I already have but there are some beautiful images of Enceladus' plumes and satellite mutual events, images of the G and D rings and interesting images of Saturn's nightside and fairly good Iapetus images.

Radar and VIMS is also available.

All in all a nice 'Christmas gift' .

[ugordan]

Ahh, that explains it. Thanks a lot, pat, I'm always interested in learning in more detail how all these sequences are actually developed and executed at the low level. The shortening of the observation does seem like the most plausible reason. I did notice the one smeared image you mention, but the empty ones must have slipped me as "non-interesting".

Speaking of slew maneuvers, one thing I was always wondering is how much buffer time the cameras use when making mosaics of targets spanning over 1 FOV? Is it a couple of minutes or shorter? How fast can Cassini actually turn around say 180 degrees and steady up at the target pointing?

[pat]

Speaking of slew maneuvers, one thing I was always wondering is how much buffer time the cameras use when making mosaics of targets spanning over 1 FOV? Is it a couple of minutes or shorter? How fast can Cassini actually turn around say 180 degrees and steady up at the target pointing?

I'm not sure about the margin for turns while mosaicing but for a 180 degree slew the times are

Roll about X-axis ~30.5 minutes
Roll about Y-axis ~25.8 minutes
Roll about Z-axis ~16.4 minutes

using high power for the reaction wheels
and

Roll about X-axis ~58 minutes
Roll about Y-axis ~42 minutes
Roll about Z-axis ~38 minutes

using low power for the reaction wheels

and a 180 degree RCS turn is about 11 minutes

The settling time after a turn is nominally about 60 seconds I think.