2004-04-09 | MISSIONS
Mergers on a Grand Scale
Even though the Cassini spacecraft has not yet arrived at Saturn, the mission has already begun to return important scientific data. Recently, Cassini observed two storms in the act of merging into one larger storm. This is only the second time this phenomenon has been observed on the ringed planet.
Through Cassini, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of Saturn, its famous rings, its magnetosphere, Titan, and its other icy moons. Cassini will begin a four-year prime mission in orbit around Saturn when it arrives July 1. It will release its piggybacked Huygens probe about six months later for descent through Titan's thick atmosphere. The probe could impact in what may be a liquid methane ocean.
Titan is of particular interest to astrobiologists because it is the only known moon in the Solar System with its own atmosphere. Studying the organic chemistry of Titan's atmosphere, which resembles that of early Earth, may help scientists understand the origin of life on our planet. Understanding how life emerges from cosmic and planetary precursors is a primary goal of astrobiology.
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from NASA, Apr 09, 2004
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