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On Sept. 15, 2017, the Cassini mission, which has spent nearly 13 years at Saturn, will come to an end as the spacecraft makes a dramatic plunge into the ringed giant. It's part of a planned grand finale for the mission, which is on its last fuel reserves after spending years orbiting Saturn and flying by the planet's intriguing moons. The final plunge is designed to protect and preserve Saturn's moons for future exploration – especially the potentially habitable Enceladus.

But before mission controllers bid farewell to Cassini, they will send the spacecraft on a daring series of orbits never tried before. On April 26, Cassini will go where no spacecraft has gone before, flying through the gap between Saturn and its rings. The spacecraft will complete 22 of these historic "Grand Finale" orbits, providing new science and up-close views of Saturn.

› Read the NASA news release for more about Cassini's Grand Finale, plus see new images and videos. 

Key Dates

• April 22 at 6:08 a.m. UTC (April 21, 11:08 p.m. PDT): Cassini flies by Saturn's moon Titan, setting the spacecraft on a trajectory for its Grand Finale orbits. 


• April 23 at 3:46 a.m. UTC (April 22, 8:46 p.m. PDT): Cassini's enters its first Grand Finale orbit. 


• April 26 at 9 a.m. UTC (2 a.m. PDT): Cassini crosses between Saturn and the planet's rings for the first time. 


• May 24: The northern summer solstice at Saturn begins. 


• September 15 at 10:44 a.m. UTC (3:44 a.m. PDT): Cassini begins its plunge into Saturn's atmosphere. The spacecraft will lose its signal one minute later at 10:45 a.m. UTC (3:45 a.m. PDT).


• September 15 at 12:08 p.m. UTC (5:08 a.m. PDT): Cassini's final signal will be received on Earth. 

› Explore the interactive timeline for the full Cassini mission at Saturn

NASA is inviting the public to follow along throughout Cassini's Grand Finale. Visit the Cassini mission resources page for links to download posters, materials, videos, images and explore the mission finale interactive.

And follow the links below for standards-aligned lessons and resources from NASA/JPL Education.

• Teachable Moment: Cassini's Daring Mission Finale Between the Rings and Saturn – Learn about the exciting science and engineering behind the Cassini mission’s final months at Saturn. Plus get resources, activities and standards-aligned lessons for bringing the excitement of the mission into the classroom.


• Lesson: Pi in the Sky 4 – In this math challenge, students use pi to calculate the date of Cassini's Grand Finale plunge into Saturn. Includes a free poster.


• Lesson: Pi in the Sky – In this math challenge, students use pi to solve science and engineering challenges, including calculating the amount of fuel in Cassini's fuel tank. Includes a free poster.


• Lesson: Flying Through the Plume on Saturn's Moon Enceladus – Students learn about Saturn's scientifically intriguing moon Enceladus and investigate its fascinating features, including its ocean and plumes, using math.


• Video: Bouncing Radio Waves Off Titan's Lakes – This animated video shows how NASA's Cassini spacecraft at Saturn used radio science to "peer" beneath the surface of the hazy moon Titan and study its mysterious lakes.


• Slideshow: 8 Real-World Science Facts About Saturn's Moon Enceladus – This slideshow, which includes a free poster, highlights fascinating findings and discoveries about Saturn's moon Enceladus.


• Poster: Ocean Worlds – This free poster depicts the best-known candidates in our search for life in the solar system, which include several moons of Saturn.