Voyager 2 RSS: Saturn Atmosphere and Ring Radio Occultation Raw Data, 1981

On 26 August 1981, the Voyager 2 spacecraft collected raw voltage data during a radio occultation of Saturn. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) gathered this data using the Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) to probe Saturn's atmosphere and rings via S-band and X-band microwave signals received by the Deep Space Network. The dataset includes raw occultation measurements, ring scattering data, and related calibration files.

Use Cases

• Deriving atmospheric temperature and pressure profiles based on the radio signal refraction described.
• Inferring magnetic field orientations in Saturn's ionosphere based on the dual-frequency signal analysis mentioned.
• Studying signal forward-scattering from Saturn's ring particles using the ring scattering data collected.
• Calibrating radio science instruments using the test and calibration data included from about 8 hours earlier.

Strengths

• Data originates from a definitive NASA planetary science mission, Voyager 2.
• Includes raw voltage outputs sampled at 300,000 samples per second for both S-band and X-band receivers.
• Contains multiple related data types: occultation raw data, ring scattering data, and calibration files.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale analysis.
• Last updated 2026 03 13 13:44:39.409829; freshness should be verified as the data itself is from 1981.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Raw voltage data collected by the Voyager 2 Radio Science Subsystem during a radio occultation, received by a 64m NASA Deep Space Network antenna.

Time Range

26 August 1981

Freshness

Data collection occurred on a specific date in 1981; metadata was last updated in 2026.

Geography

Saturn's atmosphere and rings, with reception in Canberra, Australia.