15 Sep 2017

Spacecraft's grand finale

From Afternoons, 1:19 pm on 15 September 2017
Cassini launch

Cassini launch Photo: Ian Griffin

One of NASA's 20 year old spacecrafts is scheduled to have a fiery end to it's mission later tonight.

The Cassini was launched in 1997 to specifically head to Saturn and provide more insight in to the ringed planet and it's moons.

It has sent back information and images from Saturn and it's 60 moons.

Now after two decades in space it is running low on fuel and concerns it might crash into one of the moons the spacecraft is going to be guided into Saturn's atmosphere where it will burn up.

Otgao University Director Ian Griffin was in Florida to see the Cassini launch and has now travelled to Australia to witness it's demise. He talks to Jesse about the importance of its mission.