La sonda Cassini, dal peso di 2,5 tonnellate, ha completato la sua missione cominciata nel 1997 tuffandosi alla velocità di 113'000 km/h verso la superficie di Saturno. Per tredici anni ha analizzato il pianeta e 19 delle sue lune. Col suo ultimo messaggio abbiamo a disposizione dei dati senza precedenti sulle caratteristiche atmosferiche del gigante gassoso che ci permetteranno di comprenderne meglio la formazione e l’evoluzione.
L’ultima emissione, che ha impiegato 83 minuti a raggiungere la terra, è stata captata dal centro di controllo di Pasadena in California alle 12.55, ora svizzera, come previsto.
"Il segnale è perduto. È la fine del vascello spaziale"
"È la fine del vascello spaziale”. A detto un ingegnere della NASA osservando le immagini del grande salto. “Spero siate tutti fieri di questo straordinario successo” ha dichiarato poi
Earl Maize, responsabile della missione rivolgendosi ai membri dell’equipe. E tutti hanno applaudito.
Cassini, una missione durata vent'anni
ATS/Bleff
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Sonda Cassini addio
RSI Tech&Scienza 15.09.2017, 18:11
RG 18.30 del 15.09.2017 - Il servizio di Manjula Bhatia
RSI Mondo 15.09.2017, 20:35
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