Cassini orbits Saturn system since June, 2004. For the next 13 years its discoveries radically changed all our knowledge about gas giant's system. We saw amazing world of seas and dunes, hidden under Titan's clouds, discovered a subsurface ocean of Enceladus and imaged small ravioli-moon inside of rings system.
Image: NASA/JPL
Unfortunately, everyhing comes to an end. Cassini's fuel tanks are almost empty, and closest gas station is on Earth. To avoid scenario, when uncontrolled spacecraft might in the future to crash into one of icy moons of Saturn and contaminate it with microbes, NASA decided to burn spacecraft in Saturn's atmosphere. However, before mission's end The Grand Finale orbital dance is expected.
Image: JPL/NASA
On April 22, Cassini will fly over Titan for the last time. Engineers will use Titan's gravity to change probe's orbit so, that it will pass between upper layer of Saturn's atmosphere and internal edge of rings. During last 22 orbits, Cassini should obtain data about internal structure of gas giant, structure and mass of its rings system and to get the best ever images of Saturn and rings.
On September, 15, the spacecraft will enter Saturn's atmosphere. At this time, its antenna will be directed at Earth, so it will transmit data and image about environment up to the last minute. After the Grand Finale, for at least 15 years, we'll have no eyes in Saturn system. So sad..