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For the next three years, this little spacecraft will run rings—74 or more—around the ringed planet
 | OPENING MOVES JULY 1, 2004 In its first three orbits of Saturn, Cassini will skim the icy moon Titan, drop off the Huygens probe, and observe moons Iapetus and Phoebe. |
 | LOOP-THE-LOOPS FEBRUARY 15, 2005 Orbits 3 to 14 put the spacecraft behind the rings to view them silhouetted against the sun and thus gather data on their structure and evolution. |
 | THE SIDE STEP SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 A shift during orbits 14 to 26 gives Cassini a glimpse of Saturn’s far side, where the planet’s magnetosphere is squeezed by the solar wind. |
 | THE HIP SHAKE JULY 22, 2006 Orbits 26 to 47 flip the craft with respect to the sun, creating better photo ops of Saturn. Eighteen flybys of Titan add a critical gravity boost. |
 | THE MOON SHOT JUNE 30, 2007 Three quick orbits, 47 to 49, send Cassini on another spin past Titan (one of 45) and provide a last glance at Rhea, Saturn’s second largest moon. |
 | THE BIG FINALE AUGUST 31, 2007 Cassini steps back in orbits 49 to 74 for a wide view of Saturn’s rings, poles, and magnetosphere. After that, it’ll keep orbiting until its juice quits. |
