The "Cassini Grand Finale"
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 12:06 am
Saturn-orbiting spacecraft
to go out with a bang, says NASA
For its "grand finale," the Cassini space probe will orbit between Saturn
and its innermost ring, before plunging itself into the gas giant's atmosphere.
By Mike Wall
SPACE.com Senior Writer
NASA has chosen a name for the dramatic final phase of its Saturn-studying Cassini mission, with a little help from the public.
Starting in late 2016, Cassini will zip between Saturn and its innermost ring a total of 22 times in a mission phase now known as the "Cassini Grand Finale," which will end in September 2017 when the probe intentionally dives into the gas giant's atmosphere.
The spacecraft's handlers had been calling this upcoming period "the proximal orbits" because Cassini will be so close to the planet, but they felt this appellation lacked pizzazz. So in April, they asked the public to vote for names provided by mission team members or suggest monikers of their own.
More than 2,000 people took part, NASA officials said. The team took the public's input into account, then decided to go with the "Cassini Grand Finale."
MORE
to go out with a bang, says NASA
For its "grand finale," the Cassini space probe will orbit between Saturn
and its innermost ring, before plunging itself into the gas giant's atmosphere.
By Mike Wall
SPACE.com Senior Writer
NASA has chosen a name for the dramatic final phase of its Saturn-studying Cassini mission, with a little help from the public.
Starting in late 2016, Cassini will zip between Saturn and its innermost ring a total of 22 times in a mission phase now known as the "Cassini Grand Finale," which will end in September 2017 when the probe intentionally dives into the gas giant's atmosphere.
The spacecraft's handlers had been calling this upcoming period "the proximal orbits" because Cassini will be so close to the planet, but they felt this appellation lacked pizzazz. So in April, they asked the public to vote for names provided by mission team members or suggest monikers of their own.
More than 2,000 people took part, NASA officials said. The team took the public's input into account, then decided to go with the "Cassini Grand Finale."
MORE
