Requiem for Cassini

  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