CASSINI SOI Fly Through July 1, 2004

The plots below have come from codes which simulate what Cassini might fly through in it's first orbit around Saturn. The chosen time periods were Cassini's first two periapsis. A periapse is the closet approach an object has to another object. The first periapse is the closest Cassini gets to Sartun (July 1, 2004), which is also called SOI (Saturn Orbiter Insertion), and the second periapse is the second time Cassini gets close to Saturn (November 29, 2004).

The First and Second Periapse Through Solid Renderings

Cassini trajectory data in Saturn Solar System or Saturn Solar Equatorial (SSEq) (AKA as Saturn Geographic) coordinates in units of Saturn radii and degrees. Saturn centered coordinate system, Z along spin axis, X-Z plane contains the Sun, and Y completes the right-handed set. R is the Saturn -> S/C distance. Saturn -> S/C distance. (Rs = 62,268km).

OH Neutral Density Plots:

First Periapse

Second Periapse

Water Neutral Densities in the Rings:

• Model based on Johnson, R. E., M. K. Pospieszalska, E. C. Sittler, Jr., A. F. Cheng, L. J. Lanzerotti and E. M. Sieveka, The Neutral Cloud and Heavy Ion Inner Torus at Saturn, Icarus, 77, 311, 1989.

• Model also based on Pospieszalska, M. K. and R. E. Johnson, Micrometeorite Erosion of the Main Rings as a Source of Plasma in the Inner Saturnian Plasma Torus, Icarus, 93, 45, 1991.

(only SOI, second periapse does not pass through the rings)

Ring Water Neutrals

Water Ion Densities in the Rings:

• Model based on Pospieszalska, M. K. and R. E. Johnson, Micrometeorite Erosion of the Main Rings as a Source of Plasma in the Inner Saturnian Plasma Torus, Icarus, 93, 45, 1991.

(only SOI, second periapse does not pass through the rings)

Ring Water Ions

Icy Satellites Water Neutral Density Plots:

• Model based on R.E. Johnson ioniz. rates using Barbosa ion lifetimes (JGR 98, 9335, 1993)

First Periapse

Second Periapse

Icy Satellites Water Ion Density Plots:

• Model based on R.E. Johnson ioniz. rates using Barbosa ion lifetimes (JGR 98, 9335, 1993)

First Periapse

Second Periapse

Total Water Neutral Densities From the Rings and Icy Satellites Plot:

(only SOI, second periapse does not pass through the rings)

Ring and Icy Satellites Water Neutrals

Total Water Ion Densities From the Rings and Icy Satellites Plot:

(only SOI, second periapse does not pass through the rings)

Ring and Icy Satellites Water Ions

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