Cassini plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere on September 15, 2017, the culmination of two decades of incredible planetary exploration. The Cassini propulsion system performed spectacularly during this lengthy mission, executing 360 propulsive maneuvers successfully. R-4D performance was impeccable during 183 main-engine burns, ranging from 1.3 seconds to 96 minutes in duration. Pressure transducer drift was negligible, latch valve back-pressure relief was nominal, and pressurization system performance was flawless, except for hard-seat prime regulator leakage early in the mission. System health checks based on helium mass calculations (helium mass budgets) demonstrated no discernible helium pressurant or propellant leakage. Premature degradation of prime MR-103H RCS thrusters was noted, but back-up RCS thrusters completed the mission successfully. Final usable propellant margins were about 25% for hydrazine and less than 1% for bipropellant.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Final Cassini Propulsion System In-Flight Characterization


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2018-07-09


    Type of media :

    Preprint


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Final Cassini Propulsion System In-Flight Characterization (AIAA 2018-4546)

    Barber, Todd J. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2018


    INITIAL CASSINI PROPULSION SYSTEM IN-FLIGHT CHARACTERIZATION

    Barber, T. J. / Cowley, R. T. / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002


    Initial Cassini propulsion system in-flight characterization

    Barber, T. J. / Crowley, R. T. | NTRS | 2002