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Planetary Radio • Sep 20, 2017

Long Live Cassini!

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On This Episode

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Thanasis Economou

Senior Scientist for University of Chicago Enrico Fermi Institute

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James Green

Senior Advisor to NASA and host of Gravity Assist

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John Grunsfeld

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

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Mike Kentrianakis

Eclipse Project Manager for American Astronomical Society

20170726 Twitteravatar Isabel Lawrence 50 Hi Res
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Ralph Lorenz

Planetary Scientist for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab

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Earl Maize

Cassini Mission Program Manager for Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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Bob Pappalardo

Europa Clipper Mission Project Scientist for Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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Linda Spilker

Voyager Mission Project Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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Ellen Stofan

Planetary Geologist and Director of the National Air and Space Museum

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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

Related Links:

This week's prizes are the brand new Chop Shop-designed Planetary Radio t-shirt, a 200-point iTelescope.net astronomy account, and a Cassini Grand Finale gift package, including a pin, poster and sticker.

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.