NASA’s Cassini on final five orbits around Saturn

NASA's Cassini on final five orbits around Saturn

Question:- NASA’s Cassini spacecraft started ultra close orbits around …
(a) Mercury
(b) Venus
(c) Uranus
(d) Saturn
Answer:- (d)
Related facts:-

  • NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is set to embark on ultra-close passes through Saturn’s upper atmosphere during its final five orbits around the planet starting August 14, 2017.
  • The spacecraft’s point of closest approach to Saturn will be between about 1,630 and 1,710 kilometres above Saturn’s cloud tops.
  • The spacecraft is expected to face atmosphere dense enough to require the use of small rocket thrusters to maintain stability.
  • Cassini instruments will obtain data on the atmosphere, temperature, and the vortexes at the planet’s poles.

Reference:-
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/