[X] My Assistant

[Holder of the Tw...]

This orbit of Cassini has already begun on March 4th, 2013. The major activity is a targeted flyby of Rhea starting on the 9th. Cassini will approach from the south, and this will be the last time it will get good direct (mostly centered) imaging of the south pole (thermal) and north pole (cameras). What little of Rhea remains unmapped will mostly be picked up on the north pole photos, although some of it at very low sun angles. During closest approach they will be gravity mapping the interior from radio doppler tracking.

"Finals" like this one are reminders that although the mission is not winding down yet, still the number of days ahead for Cassini are not as many as the days already behind. There will be three more close non-targeted flybys of Rhea in 2015 when Cassini will get within waving distance, but they will never again get up close and personal.

Looking ahead article

The other major activities are high latitude observations of Saturn and the rings, including more propeller searches. Only distant cloud monitoring observations of Titan are planned for this orbit.