https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6930

NASA Announces Cassini End-of-Mission Activities
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
August 24, 2017

On Sept. 15, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will complete its remarkable story
of exploration with an intentional plunge into Saturn's atmosphere, ending
its mission after nearly 20 years in space. News briefings, photo opportunities and other media events will be held at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
in Pasadena, California, and will air live on NASA Television and the
agency's website.

NASA also will hold a media teleconference Tuesday, Aug. 29 to preview activities for Cassini during its final two weeks.
› DOWNLOAD VIDEO Cassini: The Wonder of Saturn

Launched in 1997, Cassini arrived in orbit around Saturn in 2004 on a
mission to study the giant planet, its rings, moons and magnetosphere.
In April of this year, Cassini began the final phase of its mission, called
its Grand Finale -- a daring series of 22 weekly dives between the planet
and its rings. On Sept. 15, Cassini will plunge into Saturn, sending new
and unique science about the planet's upper atmosphere to the very end.
After losing contact with Earth, the spacecraft will burn up like a meteor. This is the first time a spacecraft has explored this unique region of
Saturn -- a dramatic conclusion to a mission that has revealed so much
about the ringed planet.

Cassini flight controllers will monitor the spacecraft's final transmissions from JPL Mission Control.

Cassini Media Events and Schedule

(All media teleconferences and NASA TV news conferences will be available
on the agency's website, and times are subject to change)

Tuesday, Aug. 29

2 p.m. EDT -- Media teleconference about spacecraft science and operations activities for the final orbits leading up to the end of the mission will include:

- Curt Niebur, Cassini program scientist, Headquarters, Washington

- Earl Maize, Cassini project manager, JPL

- Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist, JPL

Visuals discussed during the telecon will be available at the start of
the event at:

https://www.nasa.gov/cassinitelecon

Wednesday, Sept. 13

1 p.m. EDT -- News conference from JPL with a detailed preview of
final mission activities (also available on NASA TV and online)

Thursday, Sept. 14

10 a.m. to 3 p.m PDT -- NASA Social -- onsite gathering for 30 pre-selected social media followers. Events will include a tour, and a speaker program
that will be carried on NASA TV and online.
About 8 p.m. PDT -- Final downlink of images expected to begin (streamed online only)

Friday, Sept. 15: End of Mission

7 to 8:30 a.m. EDT -- Live commentary on NASA TV and online. In addition, an uninterrupted, clean feed of cameras from JPL Mission Control, with
mission audio only, will be available during the commentary on the NASA
TV Media Channel and on Ustream.
About 8 a.m. EDT -- Expected time of last signal and science data
from Cassini
9:30 a.m. EDT -- Post-mission news conference at JPL (on NASA TV and online)

Media and the public also may ask questions during the events using #askNASA.

For online streaming, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

To watch the news conferences online, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/live

http://www.youtube.com/nasajpl/live

Accreditation

To cover these events at JPL, media must have pre-arranged credentials
issued via the JPL Media Relations Office. The deadlines to apply for credentials have passed.

Resources

A Cassini press kit will be available beginning on Aug. 29 at:

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/grand-finale/for-media

Video for the Cassini mission is available for download at:

https://vimeo.com/album/4649677

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. JPL manages the mission for
NASA's Science Mission Directorate. JPL designed, developed and assembled
the Cassini orbiter.

For more information on the Cassini mission's finale, including graphics,
fact sheets, press kit, and an up-to-date timeline of mission events,
visit:

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/grandfinale

Follow the mission on social media at:

http://www.twitter.com/CassiniSaturn

https://www.facebook.com/NASACassini

News Media Contact
Dwayne Brown / Laurie Cantillo
NASA Headquarters, Washington
|202-358-1726 / 202-358-1077
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov / laura.l.cantillo@nasa.gov

Preston Dyches
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-7013
preston.dyches@jpl.nasa.gov

2017-226b

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