TRACKING CASSINI

15 October, 1997: The Cassini orbiter and Huygens probe are successfully launched

31 October, 2002: Cassini sends back its first image of Saturn

10 June, 2004: Cassini performs its first fly-by of a moon of Saturn, providing stunning views of Phoebe

1 July, 2004: Cassini becomes the first spacecraft to be inserted into Saturn's orbit

23 December, 2004: The Huygens probe begins its three week descent to the surface of Saturn's biggest moon - Titan

14 January, 2005: The Huygens probe becomes the first and only space craft to have landed on any body in the outer solar system

13 July, 2005: Cassini captures detailed images of tiny, icy moon Enceladus revealing complex terrains and tectonic features

8 March, 2006: Scientists announce evidence of existence of liquid water near the surface

31 May 2008: After four years at Saturn, Cassini's first phase draws to a close and the mission is extended for two more years

2 March 2009: Cassini discovers Saturn's smallest known moonAegaeon, embedded in the G ring

13 September 2009: The spacecraft's magnetosphere detects a new temporary radiation belt around 377,000 kms from the centre of the planet

28 November 2010: Molecules of oxygen are captured in the atmosphere of Rhea, one of Saturn's icy moons, for the first time at an world other than Earth

23 April 2017: Cassini makes its 127th and final Titan fly by

15 September 2017: After two decades in space, Cassini finally plunges into Saturn's atmosphere