Titan Flyby – November 03, 2008

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Radio Science Front and Center

After a 95-day hiatus since its previous visit, Cassini completed a successful flyby of Titan on Nov. 3, passing the smog-enshrouded moon at an altitude of 1,105 kilometers (687 miles).

During this flyby the Radio Science Subsystem performed critical atmospheric occultations -- watching Earth slip behind Titan and using Cassini's signal to probe the moon's atmosphere. A second Radio Science experiment sent a signal toward Titan's surface which then bounced toward Earth, carrying with it information about the composition and physical state of the surface at low latitudes.

Titan Flyby at a Glance

Date
Nov. 3, 2008

Altitude
684 miles (1,100 km)

Speed
14,000 mph (6.3 km/sec)