The flight team is in place for SOI — that is, Saturn orbit insertion, the mission commentator said at the time, as captured in the new NASA video. That is when the spacecraft must be captured by Saturns gravity, or it will fly right on past the planet and the mission will be over. Cassini executed the maneuver perfectly, of course, eliciting cheers and congratulatory hugs and handshakes throughout mission control. Cassini has continued studying the planet and its rings ever since, making a number of landmark discoveries along the way. For example, the probe spotted plumes of water vapor erupting from the south polar region of Enceladus, the planets sixth-largest moon, suggesting that an ocean of liquid water sloshes beneath the satellites icy shell. space/26370-nasa-cassini-saturn-arrival-anniversary-video.html?cmpid=514630_20140626_26792316
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:24:03 +0000
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