Cassini has revealed sights and never-before-seen phenomena that are changing our understanding of how planetary systems develop and evolve, and the extent of those environmental conditions that could create habitats for life.

Cassini has revealed sights and never-before-seen phenomena that are changing our understanding of how planetary systems develop and evolve, and the extent of those environmental conditions that could create habitats for life.

After its 20-year tour through space, the mission ended in a planned swan dive into Saturn, between its rings, on September 15. For Carolyn Porco (PhD ’83), a planetary scientist, Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley, a Caltech Distinguished Alumna, and Cassini’s imaging science team lead, that moment was bittersweet. “We’ve lived a bold and daring adventure around the solar system’s most magnificent planet. What a privilege it was to be responsible for returning the visual record of our travels there.”