“As Cassini started to spin and tear apart in Saturn’s frozen atmosphere, it had one final gift for us.
“The probe threw its thrusters into full power, burning up the last of its dwindling fuel supplies, and managed to keep its antennas pointed at Earth even as its components started to melt.
“CSIRO scientists at Canberra’s Deep Space Communication Complex, who were responsible for tracking and controlling Cassini’s last moments using a pair of huge dishes, say the probe managed to survive nearly a minute longer than anyone had predicted.
“As it melted, it sent back volumes of vital data on Saturn’s atmospheric composition, from which scientists will make many new discoveries in the months and years ahead.”
Read more at SMH
