Mission control announced early Friday morning that the spacecraft Explorer Cassini/Huygens was sent to its fiery end into Saturn. The purpose of its destruction came at the end of its power limits and the end of mission. Launched 20 years ago, the goal was to gather information on the ringed planet of Saturn, and to analyze its mysterious rings about which little was known.
It took the Explorer 7 years to arrive at its designated station in the vicinity of the planet and its atmosphere. Immediately, the instruments began to gather and analyze data, sending back reams of data for scientists to gather, catalogue, and study. Scientists acknowledge that the amount of data collected is staggering and will take decades to study intensively. CalTech faculty and staff were of mixed emotions on Friday as the end of mission wrapped up 20 years of their personal involvement with Cassini. But now, they know it's a new beginning as they move into a new era.
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