The Cassini Spacecraft Will Soon Commit Suicide on Saturn. Here’s What to Know

After more than a decade of exploring Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft will soon commit suicide by plunging into the planet it has been documenting for years.

The spacecraft launched nearly 20 years ago, and took about seven years to make it to Saturn's orbit. Since 2004, Cassini has completed more than 290 orbits of the planet, sending back thousands of stunning images and making discoveries about Saturn, its rings and its moons. On Sept. 15, Cassini will die by diving into Saturn's atmosphere.