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First photos from Cassini Saturn probe's new orbit | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Cassini spacecraft has sent back the first views from its new orbit around Saturn. | The Cassini spacecraft has sent back the first views from its new orbit around Saturn. |
Last month, the Nasa probe began a new phase of its mission - one that involves making a series of daredevil manoeuvres over the next nine months. | Last month, the Nasa probe began a new phase of its mission - one that involves making a series of daredevil manoeuvres over the next nine months. |
The phase will end with Cassini being destroyed in the atmosphere of a planet it has been studying for 12 years. | The phase will end with Cassini being destroyed in the atmosphere of a planet it has been studying for 12 years. |
The new photos show the hexagon-shaped storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere. | The new photos show the hexagon-shaped storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere. |
Cassini began what are known as its ring-grazing orbits on 30 November. Each of these week-long orbits - 20 in all - lifts the spacecraft high above Saturn's northern hemisphere before sending it hurtling past the outer edges of the planet's main rings. | Cassini began what are known as its ring-grazing orbits on 30 November. Each of these week-long orbits - 20 in all - lifts the spacecraft high above Saturn's northern hemisphere before sending it hurtling past the outer edges of the planet's main rings. |
Nasa said that it would release images from future passes that included some of the closest-ever views of the outer rings and small moons that orbit there. | Nasa said that it would release images from future passes that included some of the closest-ever views of the outer rings and small moons that orbit there. |
Carolyn Porco, the head of Cassini's imaging team, commented: "This is it, the beginning of the end of our historic exploration of Saturn. | Carolyn Porco, the head of Cassini's imaging team, commented: "This is it, the beginning of the end of our historic exploration of Saturn. |
"Let these images - and those to come - remind you that we've lived a bold and daring adventure around the Solar System's most magnificent planet." | "Let these images - and those to come - remind you that we've lived a bold and daring adventure around the Solar System's most magnificent planet." |
The destructive ending being planned for Cassini is a result of the spacecraft having nearly exhausted its fuel. | The destructive ending being planned for Cassini is a result of the spacecraft having nearly exhausted its fuel. |
But Nasa is also concerned about the small, yet important possibility that the probe will crash into one of Saturn's moons at some point in the future. | But Nasa is also concerned about the small, yet important possibility that the probe will crash into one of Saturn's moons at some point in the future. |
Given that some of these bodies, such as Enceladus, are potential targets in the search for extra-terrestrial life, it has the potential to contaminate these bodies with terrestrial microbes borne on Cassini. | |
Starting from April, Cassini will begin its grand finale, in which it will make the first of 22 dives through the 2,400km gap between the planet and its innermost ring. | Starting from April, Cassini will begin its grand finale, in which it will make the first of 22 dives through the 2,400km gap between the planet and its innermost ring. |
The spacecraft will make its final plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn on 15 September. | The spacecraft will make its final plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn on 15 September. |
Follow Paul on Twitter. | Follow Paul on Twitter. |
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