The Gravity Fields and Interior Structure of the Saturnian Satellites
Abstract
The Radio Science Team of the Cassini mission to Saturn has acquired Doppler tracking data for the purpose of determining the masses of several satellites. Results are available for Encledaus, Dione, Rhea, Hyperion, and Iapetus; preliminary results from titan are expected to be available. For the case of Rhea, the higher order quadrupole moments are also available as they are expected for Titan along with the dynamic Love number. Along with the gravity field and interior structure, this paper presents the method of acquisition, processing, and calibration of the data as well as the experimental configuration (altitude, duration, speed, etc.) for each satellite. Where applicable, results are compared to pre-experiment simulations. With assumptions on the volumes of the bodies, the paper discusses geophysical interpretations of the density results. Non-differentiated and differentiated models will be checked against the observations. Undifferentiated models are characterized by the mass fraction of silicate as a function of the silicate density. Differentiated models with two layers are characterized by the size of the core and the mass fraction of silicate in the core and in the mantle. Three-layer models are also investigated. Plans for the remainder of the Cassini prime and extended missions will be presented.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AGUFM.G52B..04A
- Keywords:
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- 1200 GEODESY AND GRAVITY;
- 1294 Instruments and techniques;
- 5417 Gravitational fields (1221)