Nasa's Cassini heads for dive into Saturn

Cassini launched on 15 October 1997

on its seven year voyage to Saturn

April 1998

First Venus swingby

August 1999

Earth

swingby

Venus

June 1999

Second Venus swingby

Sun

December 1998

Deep space

manoeuvre

Earth

Launch

Jupiter orbit

1 July 2004

Saturn arrival

Jupiter

Saturn

December 2000

Jupiter swingby

Saturn orbit

On 15 September, Cassini will dive towards

the planet and burn up in its atmosphere.

Nasa have called it the grand finale

14th, 12.58pm

Last image taken

14th, 2.45pm

Transmits all data

and images

15th, 1.37am

Reconfigures for

real-time science

transmission

Titan

11 September

Flyby of Titan

pushes Cassini

towards Saturn

Saturn

15 September 4.54am

Loss of signal

Cassini launched on 15 October 1997 on its seven year voyage to Saturn

Saturn

June 1999

Second Venus

swingby

December 1998

Deep space

manoeuvre

1 July 2004

Saturn arrival

Venus

April 1998

First Venus

swingby

Sun

Earth

Launch

Jupiter

August 1999

Earth swingby

December 2000

Jupiter swingby

Jupiter orbit

Saturn orbit

On 15 September, Cassini will dive towards the planet and burn

up in its atmosphere. Nasa have called it the grand finale

14th, 12.58pm

Last image taken

15th, 1.37am

Reconfigures for real-time

science transmission

11 September

Flyby of Titan

pushes Cassini

towards Saturn

14th, 2.45pm

Transmits all data

and images

Titan

15 September

4.54am

Loss of signal