And another thing in Space News: BBC Horizon: Goodbye Cassini - Hello Saturn

[nanila]

BBC Horizon ran a one-hour "Goodbye Cassini - Hello Saturn" programme after the end of mission. My Big Boss takes up most of the second half of it, describing how the magnetometer discovered the plume activity at Enceladus.

If you're wondering who the woman in the purple shirt and glasses that she hugs at the end of mission event during the very last minute of the programme, can confirm that was me (see screencap above). That was shot about a minute after the loss of signal. :/

You can catch the Horizon programme on iPlayer if you missed it here.

Comments

Screenshot and radio

[ed_rex]

I don't know if it was your Big Boss I heard on the Canadian radio show Quirks and Quarks, but it was someone pretty high up on your team, and the sense of pride and loss she felt nearly brought me to tears.

I envy you your time on that project and share, from a great distance, at least a particle of the bittersweet sadness you must feel now that it's come to a close.

That might be the most emotionally evocative screenshot it has ever been my pleasure to see.

Re: Screenshot and radio

[nanila]

It probably was my Big Boss, if it was a woman with a South African accent. And yes, she's very good at expressing how deeply it affected her while still remaining very professional. It's impressive.

Thank you. It's a little odd every time I do a bit of work on Cassini now, knowing that the spacecraft itself is gone forever.

Re: Screenshot and radio

[ed_rex]

It's a little odd every time I do a bit of work on Cassini now, knowing that the spacecraft itself is gone forever.

I had been wondering what you would do next, but of course, with a project like that there is a lot of work to be done even after the spaceship itself is no more. Will you be staying on it indefinitely?

Re: Screenshot and radio

[nanila]

No, the Cassini Project only continues until end September 2018. Then it shuts down. I will work on it until then.

In the meantime, most of my days are filled with the Build phase of the JUICE mission, for which our lab is providing the magnetometer instrument. This time I actually get to help with the hardware, which is very satisfying!

Re: Screenshot and radio

[ed_rex]

First I've heard of this new mission; it sounds tremendously exciting. But seeing the dates on it reminds me of just how long you guys need to wait to see the results of your labours ...