The end of Cassini

[Gary7]

The Cassini probe was launched in 1997. It has been a prolific probe across our solar system, serving far longer than originally planned. These two videos provide some great insights into the mission. Sad to see Cassini go, but its last mission is a suicide run... head long into Saturn's atmosphere. Yet, a dignified end as it relays data on the atmospheric composition to Earth, all the way up until the point where it burns up. For a moment, I had this impression of the Exocom robots in TNG.

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Cassini's accomplishments are right up there near Hubble. Terrific spacecraft that provided us so much useful data.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Interesting that it was crashed to protect possible life by avoiding contamination.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I expect the mission controllers believe there's much less chance of life existing on Saturn itself as compared to Titan and Enceladus.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I expect the mission controllers believe there's much less chance of life existing on Saturn itself as compared to Titan and Enceladus.

Yeah. My first thought was of it crashing into one of Sagan's floaters.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I expect the mission controllers believe there's much less chance of life existing on Saturn itself as compared to Titan and Enceladus.

I hope the Saturnions understand that and don't see this as a interplanatery attack.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I hope the Saturnians understand that and don't see this as an interplanetary attack.

As they'd most likely be floating gas bags without skeletons or any access to metal, I doubt we need to worry too much unless they choose to fart in our general direction.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

As they'd most likely be floating gas bags without skeletons or any access to metal, I doubt we need to worry too much unless they choose to fart in our general direction.

But what if they light it, man??! What if they light it?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

But what if they light it, man??! What if they light it?

Then we're screwed.

The chances of anything coming from Saturn are a million to one...

 

[Santaman]

^^ I think that was another planet..

As for Cassini.. guess it will go out in a ball of flame.

 

[publiusr]

The Voyager/Pioneer probes will go on forever--and were known for their firsts.

Cassini--to me--was always about endings.

It was called the "last of the super-probes"--launched in the Goldin-era stagnation that gave us "faster,better,cheaper." It was launched by one of the last Titans--and the anti-nukes marred what should have been a joyous occasion. For awhile--it looked as though we'd have no more RTGs.

It slipped into Saturn's orbit not long after my parents began to moulder in the grave--my Dad dying one year to the day after Columbia fell from the skies.

After the Moon-landings, the most excited I ever got over unmanned probes was the first pics of Miranda coming from Voyager 2--thinking at first that the moon had been strip-mined. But Cassini's orbital mission is right up there. After the orbiter losses, the two spacecraft I mourn for the most--were ENVISAT and Cassini.

Cronus hath devoured yet another child of Olympus...having cut off our communication...


Golden, brave, and strong,
once upon a time.
Crown on head, sickle in hand,
Eyes looking over his kingdom.
Just and good ruler of all.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Just out of interest why are thee outer planets so promising in regards to possible life?

What would happen had the probe crashed into Enceladus and earth microbs got it on with microbes native to that moon, if such exist?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Just out of interest why are thee outer planets so promising in regards to possible life?

What would happen had the probe crashed into Enceladus and earth microbs got it on with microbes native to that moon, if such exist?

Nothing?

 

[publiusr]

You want water. Enceladus looks better than Europa in that regard. Titan got the press--but Enceladus is the break out star, as it were.

 

[Nebusj]

Just out of interest why are thee outer planets so promising in regards to possible life?

The moons of the outer planets seem likely to be able to support the kind of chemistry we believe life needs. It's not a great match, but we don't know just how delicate a balance of factors need to be satisfied for life to start, or to sustain itself.

What would happen had the probe crashed into Enceladus and earth microbs got it on with microbes native to that moon, if such exist?

Hard to say. Microbes are weird things. We don't know whether DNA/RNA are likely to turn up in alien lifeforms, particularly; even if they do, we don't know how Earth-evolved genetic materials might interact with the alien kinds. It would be a pity --- scientifically and ethically --- to screw up an independently evolved form of life without forethought, so, we take some cheap precautions to minimize what is, admittedly, already a small risk.

 

[Gary7]

Robert Picardo, well known for his portrayal of the EMH doctor on Star Trek Voyager, actually has an accomplished singing voice. He created a little tribute to Cassini. Click HERE for the video! (it's on Twitter -- can't embed video here)