WINSON COMPETITIVE GUIDE OCT2016 | Page 13

WINSON COMPETITIVE GUIDE NASA’s Cassini spacecraft to make final observations of Saturn : NASA’s Cassini spacecraft after studying Saturn, its rings and moons for more than 12 years, has entered in the final year of its epic voyage. In its epic voyage, the Cassini spacecraft will make the closest-ever observations of the planet. Beginning November 30, 2016 Cassini will make the closest-ever observations of Saturn. During the final voyage Cassini will be mapping the Saturn’s magnetic and gravity fields with exquisite precision. It will be returning ultra-close views of the Saturn’s atmosphere. Its orbit will be just past the outer edge of the main rings of Saturn. These orbits will be in a series of 20 which are called the Fring orbits. Cassini will approach to within 7,800 kilometres of the centre of the narrow F ring with its peculiar kinked and braided structure during these weekly orbits. China successfully launches Tiangong-2 space lab: 13