NASA plans to destroy the $3.26 billion Cassini Spacecraft to protect what may be alien life

by Alex Hollings · April 8, 2017

At the time of its 1997 launch, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft was among the most advanced space exploration tools ever built, but after nearly twenty years of exploring our solar system, its fuel reserves are nearly depleted. Like it or not, Cassini’s days of sending back data about the heavenly bodies littering our celestial neighborhood are numbered… the only question is, what now?

In the past, satellites that have run their course have often been permitted to maintain an orbit around their final destinations. The Dawn spacecraft, for instance, can still be found orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres it last explored. Cassini’s space-address in orbit around Saturn, however, presents NASA with a difficult decision to make.

About Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects ranging from fitness to foreign policy, all presented through the lens of his experiences as a U.S. Marine, athlete and scholar. A football player, rugby player and fighter, Hollings has spent the better part of his adult life competing in some of the most physically demanding sports on the planet. Hollings possesses a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

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Paul Y
This was the last big budget mission that NASA/JPL executed, and my last as well. So many great memories and nail-biting adventures. Every project after that was prosecuted using "off-the-shelf" technology and lean mission crews. Cassini/Huygens - those were the good ol' days.
Jeff Barker
RGR that Geo after i got out my amzing science teacher wife talked me into finishing my degree...I did thanks to her and now am a 6th grade social studies teacher. Thank you GI Bill! Essayons
Pat G
Hysterical comment George, made me laugh heartily! I agree with you. I didn't address the REASON they are destroying Cassini because it is so absurd, and I might get on a rant about it! It's fine they are destroying the spacecraft as its usefulness is over. But to destroy it because it might crash into a hunk of rock where "life" has suddenly sprung up out of some heat spot is a foolheaded idea. Yeah, we see "life" burst forth out of dead frozen space wastelands all the time, right? Mustn't harm them! I am going to start an offshoot of PETA called PETSM - People for the Ethical Treatment of Saturn's Moons. Should I sign you up??
Henry S
Love your space articles Alex, you're sure on to something!
George E. Hand IV
Love his space exploration genre. geo sends