NASA's Cassini spacecraft is shown during its
Sept. 15, 2017, plunge into Saturn's atmosphere in this artist's depiction. Cassini
will use its thrusters to keep its antenna pointed at Earth for as long as
possible while sending back unique data about Saturn's atmosphere. Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech
|
On Sept. 15, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will complete its
remarkable story of exploration with an intentional plunge into Saturn's
atmosphere, ending its mission after nearly 20 years in space. News briefings,
photo opportunities and other media events will be held at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and will air live on NASA
Television and the agency's website.
NASA also will hold a media teleconference Tuesday, Aug. 29 to
preview activities for Cassini during its final two weeks.
Launched in 1997, Cassini arrived in orbit around Saturn in 2004
on a mission to study the giant planet, its rings, moons and magnetosphere. In
April of this year, Cassini began the final phase of its mission, called its
Grand Finale -- a daring series of 22 weekly dives between the planet and its
rings. On Sept. 15, Cassini will plunge into Saturn, sending new and unique
science about the planet's upper atmosphere to the very end. After losing
contact with Earth, the spacecraft will burn up like a meteor. This is the
first time a spacecraft has explored this unique region of Saturn -- a dramatic
conclusion to a mission that has revealed so much about the ringed planet.
Cassini flight controllers will monitor the spacecraft's final
transmissions from JPL Mission Control. Interviews with mission engineers and
scientists will be available for media.
Cassini Media Events and Schedule
(All media teleconferences and NASA TV news conferences will be
available on the agency’s website, and times are subject to change)
Tuesday, Aug. 29
·
2 p.m. EDT -- Media
teleconference about spacecraft science and operations activities for the final
orbits leading up to the end of the mission will include:
·
Curt Niebur, Cassini
program scientist, Headquarters, Washington
·
Earl Maize, Cassini
project manager, JPL
·
Linda Spilker, Cassini
project scientist, JPL
Visuals discussed during the telecon will be available at the
start of the event at:
Wednesday, Sept. 13
·
1 p.m. EDT -- News
conference from JPL with a detailed preview of final mission activities (also
available on NASA TV and online)
·
11:15 a.m. PDT -- Media
tours of Mission Control (each group tour will last about half an hour)
Thursday, Sept. 14
·
10 a.m. to 3 p.m PDT --
NASA Social -- onsite gathering for 30 pre-selected social media followers
(JPL-accredited media may also attend). Events will include a tour, and a
speaker program that will be carried on NASA TV and online.
·
After 2 p.m. PDT --
Media tours of Mission Control
·
About 8 p.m. PDT --
Final downlink of images expected to begin (streamed online only)
Friday, Sept. 15: End of Mission
·
7 to 8:30 a.m. EDT --
Live commentary on NASA TV and online. In addition, an uninterrupted, clean
feed of cameras from JPL Mission Control, with mission audio only, will be
available during the commentary on the NASA TV Media Channel and on Ustream.
·
About 8 a.m. EDT --
Expected time of last signal and science data from Cassini
·
9:30 a.m. EDT --
Post-mission news conference at JPL (on NASA TV and online)
To participate by phone in any of the three briefings, media must
contact Andrew Good at andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov
or 818-393-2433 by one hour before each of the briefings’ start time. To attend
the Sept. 13 and Sept. 15 news conferences in person, media must have
credentials arranged in advance. Media and the public also may ask questions
during the events using #askNASA.
For online streaming, visit:
To watch the news conferences online, visit:
Accreditation
To cover these events at JPL, media must have pre-arranged
credentials issued via the JPL Media Relations Office. The deadlines to apply
for credentials have passed.
Pre-arranged media credentials may be picked up at JPL Visitor
Reception, located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, starting Sept. 13 between
8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PDT. U.S. media must present a valid form of
government-issued photo identification to obtain credentials. Non-U.S. citizens
must present their valid passport and visa or permanent resident alien
registration card.
Interview Opportunities
For interviews with mission team members at JPL, media with JPL
credentials may schedule interviews in the JPL newsroom or by calling
818-354-5011. Offsite media may schedule phone or Skype interviews by calling
818-354-5011.
JPL Tours
On Sept. 13, tours of JPL mission control are available to media.
Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Media
wishing to join a tour must have a JPL media credential and must make a reservation
with the JPL Media Relations Office at 818-354-5011, or sign up in person at
the JPL Newsroom.
Resources
A Cassini press kit will be available beginning on Aug. 29 at:
Video for the Cassini mission is available for download at:
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA
(European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. JPL manages the mission
for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. JPL designed, developed and assembled
the Cassini orbiter.
For more information on the Cassini mission's finale, including
graphics, fact sheets, press kit, and an up-to-date timeline of mission events,
visit:
Follow the mission on social media at: