As I said a few posts back, I am a huge space science dork.  My top 5 favorite NASA probes are:
 
1. Voyager
2. Cassini
3. Viking
4. Galileo
5. Spirit & Opportunity
 
Number two on that list disintegrated in the atmosphere of Saturn today.  Cassini was in orbit around Saturn for 7 years and made some of the most fantastic encounters of any planetary mission.  The most amazing discovery concerns a little moon called Enceladus.  Through Cassini, scientists have determined that Enceladus has a global subsurface saltwater ocean that might host hydrothermal vents.  It's probably our best bet for finding life in our solar system.
 
But Cassini was running out of fuel and rather than risk crashing into a moon and contaminating it, the folks at NASA decided to plunge the spacecraft into Saturn.  Cassini will dive into the planet's atmosphere, sending science data for as long as its small thrusters can keep the spacecraft's antenna pointed at Earth. Soon after, Cassini will burn up and disintegrate like a meteor.
 
This mix is a Requiem for Cassini.  Rather than an electronic, space music feel I went with all neo-classical and soundtrack cuts. The track titles tell the story.
 
Thanks to NASA and everyone on the Cassini team.
 
 
T R A C K L I S T :
00:00    David Sylvian - Preparations for a Journey
03:05    Cliff Martinez - Have a Good Trip
04:47    Max Richter - Journey 3 & 5
06:00    Balanescu Quartet - Empty Space Dance
09:15    Robert Fripp & Theo Travis - Return to Saturn
13:27    Cliff Martinez - Finally, you two meet
15:15    Jóhann Jóhannsson & BJ Nilsen - I am Here
18:35    James Newton Howard - I'm Listening
20:03    James Newton Howard - Talk to Me
20:41    Broken Gramophone - Titan
23:55    Echospace - Longing for Life
24:30    Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie - Bring This Place to Life
26:50    Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - What Must be Done
28:40    Clint Mansell - Death is the Road to Awe
35:00    Max Richter - Never Fade into Nothingness
43:51    Hammock - Things of Beauty Burn
48:00    36 - Sky Fire
51:35    M83 - Undimmed by Time, Unbound by Death
53:47    end




 

Ver todos los episodios