It ’s almost clock time to say goodbye to a dear champion : NASA ’s Cassini ballistic capsule .

The net and most avant-garde chapter of Cassini ’s story beginson Wednesday , April 26 , when it will commence   its   dives in and out of   the 2,400 - km - wide ( 1,500 - nautical mile - wide ) gap between Saturn and its rings . It will do this 22 times before burning up high above the skies of Saturn on September 15 .

The squad back at mission control are presently in the process of making the last checks to check everything goes as contrive . They are schedule to upload the sequence of commands to the spacecraft on April 11 .

Throughout these last dip , the ballistic capsule will   tuck a never - before - see vantage point and gather worthful data point about this comparatively nameless realm . Using this information , they will also gather   perceptivity into how other jumbo major planet form and evolve .

" Cassini ’s rarified finale is so much more than a final dip , " Linda Spilker , Cassini project scientist at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) , tell in astatement . “It ’s a electrifying final chapter for our unfearing space vehicle , and so scientifically plenteous that it was the clear and obvious choice for how to finish the commission . "

The spacecraft was launched in 1997 and has been orbiting Saturn since 2004 . Cassini ’s fuel is run low and its fourth dimension is calling , but during its tenure it has captured a huge amount of data point on   the skirt major planet and its many moon , as well assome stunning images .

" This planned termination for Cassini ’s journeying was far and out the preferred choice for the mission ’s scientists , " Spilker added . " Cassini will make some of its most sinful observations at the remnant of its retentive lifetime . "

In festivity of this long - lived space vehicle ’s last day , NASA ’s JPL has also loose this animated court ( below ) detail its final deputation and some of the amazing work it has achieved . Be prepared for goosebumps and maybe the odd rent .

Godspeed , brave chunk of metal .