ESA Science & Technology - Titan Fly-by - 3 November 2008

This encounter was set up with two manoeuvres: an apoapsis manoeuvre on 17 October, and a Titan approach manoeuvre, that was scheduled for 29 October. T46 is the tenth in a series of outbound encounters and the second Titan encounter in Cassini's Equinox Mission. It occurs roughly three days after Saturn closest approach.

Science Highlights

• Radio Science Subsystem (RSS)
  There are only five Radio Science atmospheric occultations in the entire extended mission; two of them occurred on this flyby. RSS observations on T46 included ionospheric/atmospheric occultations and bistatic surface scattering on both the ingress and egress sides. The T46 egress atmospheric occultation is the first to probe the mid northern-latitude of Titan (~34°). The ingress occultation probed mid-southern latitude (~40°). Combined with results from eight other latitudes probed during previous prime mission flybys, the occultations will shed more light on latitudinal variability of the electron density profile of the ionosphere, the temperature/pressure profile, the extinction profile, and the small scale-structure of the neutral atmosphere. Bistatic surface scattering was observed at low southern latitudes on the ingress side (25°-30°; ~90°-110° west longitude) and low northern latitude (25°-30° ; ~200°-220° west longitude) on the egress side. The incidence angle for both sides was close to the Brewster angle range for likely surface compositions. Same- and cross-polarized components of the mirror-like surface echo, if detectable, provide valuable information about the dielectric constant and physical state of the surface region probed.
• Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS)
  ISS acquired a regional mosaic of Titan's leading hemisphere at mid-southern latitudes, including coverage of Hotei Arcus. The instrument also continued to monitor clouds.
• Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS)
  The CIRS scanned and integrated on Titan's northern limb, concentrating on far-IR wavelengths to map and identify condensates and aerosols in the winter stratosphere.
• Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS)
  UVIS obtained an image cube of Titan's atmosphere at EUV and FUV wavelengths by sweeping its slit across the disk. These cubes provide spectral and spatial information on nitrogen emissions, H emission and absorption, absorption by simple hydrocarbons, and the scattering properties of haze aerosols. This is one of many such cubes gathered over the course of the mission to provide latitude and seasonal coverage of Titan's middle atmosphere and stratosphere.
• Dual Technique Magnetometer (MAG)
  T46 was a flank-in flyby with a minimum altitude of 1100 km. This geometry is adequate for studies of the draping of the external magnetic field around Titan on the nightside hemisphere. T46 took place in Saturn's near-noon sector (10.5 hours SLT), where Titan could be found in the magnetosheath if the solar wind pressure is high.
• Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI)
  The instrument studied energetic ion and electron energy input to Titan's atmosphere.
• Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS)
  RPWS measured thermal plasmas in Titan's ionosphere and surrounding environment, searched for lightning in Titan's atmosphere, and investigated the interaction of Titan with Saturn's magnetosphere. The RPWS objectives are to study the density and temperature of ionospheric electrons and to look for plasma waves that participate in the interaction of Saturn's magnetosphere with Titan. RPWS also looked for evidence of lightning from Titan's atmosphere.

Table of Events

18 October 2008

29 October 2008

30 October 2008

2 November 2008

3 November 2008

4 November 2008