Cassini: Enceladus Flyby on May 2, 2012

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http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/flybys/enceladus20120502/

Cassini
Enceladus Flyby - May 2, 2012
May. 02, 2012

Enceladus 'E-19' Flyby: Completing the Trilogy

E-19 is the third of three fly-bys (along with E-9 and E-12 designed
to understand the internal structure of Enceladus, particularly the
concentration of mass under the south polar region. Data collected in
this area may provide insight into the plume activity on the moon.
During E-19, radio science (RSS) will have its usual three periods of
observation: two wings and closest-approach. The fields, particles and
waves instruments' pointing will be optimized to gather data near
closest approach.

Other highlights:

* During the dark approach, the composite infrared spectrometer
(CIRS) will be observing the anti-Saturnian hemisphere to
monitor hot spots, and discover new ones to understand the
global energy balance of Enceladus. During the exit leg, CIRS
will be observing near the equator during the day (again to
understand the global energy balance).

* After E-19, there is a 5,010 mile (8,063 kilometer) Dione
untargeted flyby with imaging science subsystem (ISS) and CIRS
prime. This flyby is designed to seek hot spots and possible
emission from Dione, and to map poorly observed regions.

* Other observations include a plume observation similar to one
taken on the previous pass, to understand plume variability on
the scale of weeks; and two 10-hour irregular satellite
observations to derive their lightcurve and rotational states,
to give further information on the collisional environment in
the outer Saturnian system.

Enceladus Flyby at a Glance

Date
May 2, 2012 (SCET)

Altitude
46 miles (74 kilometers)

Speed
17,000 mph
(7.5 km/sec)