Titan-A Preview Overview

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Titan-A Preview Overview

1T. Ray 10/22/04


Trina L. Ray

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2T. Ray 10/22/04

Titan-A Overview Summary

• Closest approach:• Altitude: 1200km (746 miles)• Time: 2004-300T15:30:21 (Spacecraft Event Time, UTC)• Speed: 6.1 km/s (14,000 mph)• Phase 91 degrees (low phase inbound)• On thrusters

• 3445 Mbits received on Earth between 6:30pm and 3:30am on Tuesday• Science Highlights:

• Inbound movies to look for cloud motion and wind speed measurements• First in-situ sampling of Titan’s atmosphere• First crossing through Titan’s plasma wake• First medium and high resolution imaging of Titan, including imaging of Huygens

landing site. Surface composition and fluid feature mapping (lake, rivers), as well as looking for aerosol and cloud structures in the atmosphere, methane fluorescence, and volcanic activity.

• First Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) imaging of Titan’s surface, as well as scatterometry of Huygens landing site. Altimetry and Radiometry on outbound leg.

• Measure the stratospheric temperatures versus pressure (and therefore density), in part to contribute to Huygens mission validation at the altitudes of parachute deployment

• Detailed study of Titan’s interaction with Saturn’s magnetosphere, as well as further constrain the possible internal magnetic field of Titan. Characterize the ion composition and charge state near Titan

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Titan-A Trajectory Overview

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Titan-A Observation Overview

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Titan-A Press Conference Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 26-- Live NASA TV commentary on first Titan pictures from the flyby, 6:30 p.m. to midnight PDT. Program will be in several segments during that period.

Wednesday, Oct. 27-- News briefing, quick look at images, 9 to 10 a.m. PDT-- Live satellite interviews on NASA TV, noon to 4 p.m. PDT

Thursday, Oct. 28-- News briefing, science results, 9 to 10 a.m. PDT

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Titan-A Data Playback Overview

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Titan-A Preview Overview

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