After twenty years of successful mission operations and invaluable scientific discoveries, the Cassini orbiter completed its tour around the Saturnian system on the most complex gravity-assist trajectory ever flown. The end-of-mission target of September 15, 2017 was achieved by preserving propellant at the expense of minimizing maneuver cycles. A navigation a strategy that incorporated orbit trim maneuvers was developed years in advance to maintain position dispersions below 250 km (1σ) at three specific periapses. This paper reports on the actual maneuver performance and overall trajectory control to maintain the Grand Finale orbits, highlighting the differences between predicted and implemented values.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Flying Cassini Through the Grand Finale Orbits: Prediction vs. Reality


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2018-02-01


    Type of media :

    Preprint


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English



    A Linear Analysis for the Flight Path Control of the Cassini Grand Finale Orbits

    Vaquero, Mar / Hahn, Yungsun / Roth, Duane et al. | NTRS | 2017


    A linear analysis for the flight path control of the Cassini Grand Finale orbits

    Wong, Mau / Roth, Duane / Hahn, Yungsun et al. | NTRS | 2017


    Orbit Determination Adaptations for the Cassini Grand Finale

    Criddle, Kevin / Boone, Dylan / Ionasescu, Rodica et al. | NTRS | 2017


    Orbit determination adaptations for the Cassini Grand Finale

    Criddle, Kevin / Boone, Dylan / Ionasescu, Rodica et al. | NTRS | 2017


    Trajectory Dispersion Control for the Cassini Grand Finale Mission

    Wong, Mau / Hahn, Yungsun / Roth, Duane et al. | NTRS | 2015