On July 4, 2014, the
Cassini science team announced that the proximal orbits of the probe would be named the "Grand Finale". This would be immediately preceded by a gradual shift in inclination to better view
Saturn's polar hexagon, and a flyby of
Enceladus to more closely study its
cryovolcanism. This was followed by a dive into Saturn's atmosphere. Scientific data was collected using eight of its twelve science instruments. All of the probe's magnetosphere and plasma science instruments, plus the spacecraft's radio science system, and its infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers collected data during the final plunge. The data rates flowing back from Saturn could not support imaging during the final plunge, so all pictures were downlinked (transmitted back to Earth) and cameras were switched off, before the final plunge began. The predicted altitude for loss of signal was approximately above Saturn's cloud tops, when the spacecraft began to tumble and burn up like a meteor.
Cassinis final transmissions were received by the
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, located in
Australia at 18:55:46
AEST. In a bittersweet ending for the scientists involved, some of whom had been involved in the mission for decades, data was received for 30 seconds longer than anticipated, and the spacecraft's ultimate demise was predicted to have occurred within 45 seconds after that. Homages were paid on social media. NASA's video won an
Emmy for "Outstanding Original Interactive Program". == See also ==