NASA’s Cassini spacecraft set to embark on its final mission
August 12th, 2017
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is set to start off on its final mission-five ultra-close orbits around Saturn on 13 August 2017. The mission would be the spacecraft’s last before it plunges into the atmosphere of the ringed planet, bringing an end to its epic 20-year-long journey. Cassini will make the first of the five close passes over Saturn at 9:22 p.m on 13 August 2017. The spacecraft’s point of closest approach to Saturn during these passes will be between about 1,630 and 1, 710 kilometers above Saturn’s cloud tops. The spacecraft is expected to encounter atmosphere dense enough to require the use of its small rocket thrusters to maintain stability.