Cassini above Saturn's north pole
The Cassini space probe’s remarkable two–decade journey to unmask the marvels of Saturn and
its nearby moons ended this autumn, leaving scientists across the world with a wealth of data and
images. Among the many who can also thank Cassini for helping to inspire and launch their personal
scientific careers is Dr Leigh Fletcher who has been particularly interested in how this one-of-a-kind
spacecraft has shaped and expanded our understanding of the ringed-planet’s mighty atmosphere.
Twenty years ago on 15 October 1997, a mighty streak of flame from a Titan/ Centaur rocket split
the pre-dawn sky over Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was the beginning of an unprecedented journey
of discovery, as the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft left the confines of Earth bound for the ringed giant,
Saturn.
This sophisticated interplanetary explorer went into orbit around Saturn in July 2004, offering
an exciting glimpse of a planetary environment over a billion kilometres from home. Its long list
of discoveries – from the lakes and seas of Titan, to the geysers of Enceladus, to the delicacy and
rejuvenation of the rings, and to the stormy, churning atmosphere of the gas giant – has cemented
Cassini’s legacy as one of the most successful planetary missions of all time.
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