A look at the glittering journey of NASA’s Saturn orbiter Cassini before it plunges to its death

Cassini’s final dive will end a mission that provided groundbreaking discoveries that included seasonal changes on the Saturn system.

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is closing in on the end of its epic 20-year journey in space, as it prepares to take the final plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn.

This NASA artist's handout shows Cassini as the spacecraft makes one of its final five dives through Saturn's upper atmosphere in August and September 2017. (AFP Photo)

Cassini’s final dive will end a mission that provided groundbreaking discoveries that included seasonal changes on Saturn, the moon Titan’s resemblance to a primordial Earth, and a global ocean on the moon Enceladus with ice plumes spouting from its surface.

“The mission has been insanely, wildly, beautifully successful,” said Curt Niebur, Cassini program scientist.

The spacecraft will provide near real-time data on the atmosphere until it loses contact with Earth at 4:54am PDT on September 15.

Here’s a look at the glorious journey of the spacecraft through space: 

(Source: NASA, agencies)