Cassini Stays in Touch with NASA's Radio Science Subsystem

After almost 20 years in space, NASA's Cassini spacecraft begins the final chapter of its remarkable story of exploration. From now until September, Cassini will undertake a set of orbits that is, in many ways, like a whole new mission. Following a final close flyby of Saturn's moon Titan, Cassini will leap over the planet's icy rings and begin a series of 22 weekly dives between the planet and the rings.

Launched in 1997, Cassini arrived at Saturn in 2004. Following its last close flyby of Titan in April, Cassini began what mission planners are calling its Grand Finale. The spacecraft is on a trajectory that will eventually plunge into Saturn's atmosphere - and end Cassini's mission - on September 15.