Scientific Goals of CDA

Cruise Science

• Extend studies of interplanetary dust to the orbit of Saturn
• Sample the chemical composition of dust in interplanetary space and across the asteroid belt. · Search for ejecta from asteroid 66 Maja
• Investigate the dust stream fluxes caused by the Jovian system with respect to the Jupiter distance.
• Calibrate compositional measurements in the best characterized 1 AU dust environment
• Determine the flux of interstellar particles during solar maximum conditions

Jupiter Flyby

• Extend the time for studies of variable dust phenomena beyond the period accessible to the Galileo nominal mission.
• Investigate the Jupiter environment (satellites) as a source for interplanetary dust streams as discovered by Ulysses and Galileo
• Analyze dust stream particles at a different epoch from Gaileo
• Determine the composition of dust stream particles
• Perform combined measurements with the Galileo dust instrument of the Jovian dust stream particles. On December 31st, 2000, dust particles originating from Io will intersect with both the Galileo location and the Cassini trajectory. SEE FIGURE HERE

Rings

• Map size distribution of ring material, search for ring particles beyond the known E ring, search for dust particles in the "clear zone" between the F and G rings and determine the orbits for the identification of their possible parents.
• Analyse the chemical composition of ring particles.
• Study dynamical processes (erosional and electromagnetic) responsible for E ring structure, study interactions between the E ring and Saturn's magnetosphere, search for electromagnetic resonances.
• Determine dust and meteoroid distribution both in the vicinity of the rings and in interplanetary space.

Icy Satellites

• Define the role of meteoroid impacts as mechanism of surface modifications
• Obtain information on the chemical composition of satellites from the analysis of ejecta particles
• Investigate interactions with the ring system and determine the role of satellites as a source for ring particles. Magnetosphere of Saturn
• Determine the role that dust plays as source and sink of magnetospheric charged particles
• Search for electromagnetically dominated dust (small particles)

Search for dust streams from Saturn

• Cassini is the first spacecraft which will orbit Saturn. The current experimental results are based on former Voyager and Pioneer flyby measurements and give only snapshots of the compelex dust environment of Saturn. The current simulations of dusty rings in the Saturnian system are still based on the result of the former Voyager missions. Now, the dust experiment on Cassini promises much better results in quantity and quality. The long mesurement time of over 3 years around Saturn will allow extensive studies of the ring details.