Planetary Radio • Sep 20, 2017

Long Live Cassini!

Please accept marketing-cookies to listen to this podcast.

Download MP3

On This Episode

20170830 Thanasis Economou thumbnail

Thanasis Economou

Senior Scientist for University of Chicago Enrico Fermi Institute

20170531 jim green thumbnail

James Green

Senior Advisor to NASA and host of Gravity Assist

20150204 john grunsfeld

John Grunsfeld

Board of Directors of The Planetary Society; President and CEO of Endless Frontiers Associates

20170830 Mike Kentrianakis thumbnail

Mike Kentrianakis

Eclipse Project Manager for American Astronomical Society

20130716 ralph dallol satphone

Ralph Lorenz

Planetary Scientist for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab

20170920 earl maize thumbnail

Earl Maize

Cassini Mission Program Manager for Jet Propulsion Laboratory

20170920 bob pappalardo thumbnail

Bob Pappalardo

Europa Clipper Mission Project Scientist for Jet Propulsion Laboratory

20170920 linda spilker thumbnail

Linda Spilker

Voyager Mission Project Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

20141209 Ellen Stofan thumbnail

Ellen Stofan

Planetary Geologist and Director of the National Air and Space Museum

20170920 julie webster thumbnail

Julie Webster

Cassini Spacecraft Operations Office Manager for Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Join us at JPL and Caltech on the bittersweet morning the Cassini spacecraft plunged into Saturn. We’ll hear from many of the spectacular mission’s leaders, including Jim Green, John Grunsfeld, Ralph Lorenz, Bob Pappalardo, Earl Maize, Linda Spilker and Julie Webster. Bill Nye salutes the mission team and calls for continued exploration of space. The Cassini theme continues as Bruce Betts reveals What’s Up.

Jumbotrons
Jumbotrons Early morning on Caltech’s Beckman Mall with Cassini team members and guests.Image: Mat Kaplan
Linda Spilker
Linda Spilker Linda Spilker on the big screens at Caltech on the morning of September 15, 2017.Image: Mat Kaplan
Beckman Mall
Beckman Mall Looking across the Caltech Beckman Mall in the pre-dawn hours before Cassini’s end of mission.Image: Mat Kaplan
Jim Green and Mat Kaplan
Jim Green and Mat Kaplan NASA Planetary Sciences Division Director Jim Green and Mat Kaplan.Image: Pauline Acalin
Cassini Program Manager Earl Maize talks with Mat Kaplan
Cassini Program Manager Earl Maize talks with Mat Kaplan Image: Pauline Acalin
Mat Kaplan talks with Earl Maize and Linda Spilker after
Mat Kaplan talks with Earl Maize and Linda Spilker after Image: Pauline Acalin
Traditional JPL good luck peanuts
Traditional JPL good luck peanuts Image: Mat Kaplan
Media reps gather at JPL prior to Cassini end of mission media briefing
Media reps gather at JPL prior to Cassini end of mission media briefing Image: Mat Kaplan
Cassini End of Mission Media Briefing
Cassini End of Mission Media Briefing Earl Maize, Julie Webster and Linda Spilker at Cassini End of Mission Media BriefingImage: Mat Kaplan
iTelescope.net
iTelescope.net

This week's question:

When OSIRIS-REx flies by Earth on September 22, 2017, over what continent will it be at its closest approach?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, September 27th at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

On what rocket did the Cassini spacecraft launch in 1997?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

How long is the longest dimension of the Cassini spacecraft, not counting the booms—the main spacecraft’s structure before deployment?

Answer:

The Cassini spacecraft was 22 feet or 6.8 meters high or long, not including its booms.