Cassini Radio And Plasma Wave Investigation: Data Compression And Scientific Applications

W. M. Farrell et al. (1993), JBIS, 46, pp.115-120

Refcode: 1993.46.115

Abstract:

The Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument is a set of radio receivers on board the Cassini spacecraft designed to study naturally emitted radio and plasma waves from Saturn’s magnetosphere and atmosphere. At present, most of our understanding of the radio, plasma and magnetic environment of Saturn has come from the measurements during the flyby of the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. These measurements indicate that the Kronian, or Saturn’s, magnetosphere is the source of a wide range of trapped and freely propagating radio emissions which will be studied in more detail by the Cassini RPWS instrument. This paper does not attempt to be comprehensive but presents specific examples of emissions to illustrate onboard data compression.