Aster › Space program › Prometheus
Prometheus
Position on the route: 49/130 · level needed 128 · journey (Mk0 engine) 24.6 h
By the numbers
| Size | ≈ 136 × 79 × 59 km |
|---|---|
| Year | 14.7 hours |
| Distance | 139,380 km |
| Found | 1980, Voyager 1 |
The story
Prometheus is the inner shepherd of Saturn’s thin F ring; the outer one is Pandora. On each lap it pulls ice from the ring and leaves a pattern of ‘channels’ and ‘kinks’ behind it: a moon sculpting a ring in real time. Voyager 1 found it in 1980.
About 86 km, very porous, with a density of 0.48 g/cm³: half that of water. The surface is smooth, with ring dust settled on it.
Missions
- Voyager 1 and 2 (1980–81)
- Cassini (2004–2017): close images
Colony note
Very close to the ring; a collision risk. An observation station for ring material.
What probes bring back
- The inner shepherd of the F ring: it pulls out streamers and carves ‘channels’ in the ring; together with Pandora it keeps the ring in place.
- About 86 km and very porous (density 0.48 g/cm³); found by Voyager 1 in 1980.