Enceladus-3 (March 12, 2008) Options

[Guest_AlexBlackwell_*]

Excerpt from Cassini Significant Events for 02/16/06 - 02/22/06:

"As mentioned in previous weeks, the project has been working on adopting a new reference trajectory in order to raise the minimum Titan flyby altitude for various encounters. Today the project reached a decision to proceed with the 'optocc2' trajectory. Additional work is still to be performed before delivery of the final files. This will include minor tweaks that have been analyzed in other trajectories, adjusting orbit 68 timing, and capture of an Enceladus plume occultation on orbit 28."

For the record, the new reference trajectory will result in an even more spectacular Enceladus-3 flyby [61EN (t) E3] on March 12, 2008.

[volcanopele]

Even though the encounter distance is closer, don't expect too much better imaging. We come in at high-phase, C/A is over the night side, and Enceladus goes into eclipse 3 min. after C/A.

[Holder of the Tw...]

Even though the encounter distance is closer, don't expect too much better imaging. We come in at high-phase, C/A is over the night side, and Enceladus goes into eclipse 3 min. after C/A.

Any chance at all that they can snap off some pictures of the south pole before Enceladus goes into shadow?

[ljk4-1]

Check this out:

http://drudgereport.com/flash8na.htm

[volcanopele]

Check this out:

http://drudgereport.com/flash8na.htm

Unfortunately, the distance for E3 quoted is the distance to the center of enceladus for the old flyby altitude. The old altitude was 100 km, now it is much lower.