Cassini RPWS: Raw Telemetry Packets from the Saturn Mission
Updated 2mo ago
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Description
The entire Cassini mission's raw telemetry data from the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument, including flybys of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter, and the Saturn tour. Data originates from multiple receivers including the Low Frequency Receiver (LFR), Medium Frequency Receiver (MFR), and High Frequency Receiver (HFR). This dataset is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and is intended as a preservation archive, with the last update recorded as 2026-03-13.
Use Cases
Calibrating processed RPWS science data based on raw telemetry values for each frequency channel.
Investigating specific sensor anomalies or events based on data from the Low Frequency Receiver (LFR), Medium Frequency Receiver (MFR), or High Frequency Receiver (HFR).
Preserving the complete mission record for archival purposes based on the stated intent of the dataset.
Cross-referencing data from the Langmuir Probe (LP) or Sounder instruments with other mission datasets.
Strengths
Covers the entire Cassini mission timeline, including multiple planetary flybys and the Saturn tour.
Includes data from multiple specific instruments: LFR, MFR, MFDR, HFR, Sounder, and Langmuir Probe.
Data are decompressed and internal receiver minipackets are unsegmented, preserving the raw telemetry stream.
Limitations
The dataset is described as being in the 'least user-friendly form' and intended for use only as a last resort.
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
Provenance
Source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Collection Method
Acquired from the Cassini spacecraft's Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument suite.
Time Range
Covers the entire Cassini mission, including Venus, Earth, and Jupiter flybys, and the Saturn tour.
Freshness
Last updated 2026-03-13 03:47:45.015432; freshness should be verified.
Geography
Interplanetary space, with focus on the Saturn system.
License is listed as 'other-license-specified'; specific terms must be reviewed. The description strongly advises this dataset should be the last used by a user of the RPWS archive.