‘Thanks for the science’: NASA leads emotional Twitter farewell to Cassini

After nearly 20 years in space, and 13 years studying Saturn and its host of moons, Cassini has plunged headfirst into the gas giant, ending its mission.

Cassini-Huygens was one of the most daring missions undertaken by three space agencies — NASA, the ESA and Italian Space Agency — and in the process gathered invaluable information about Saturn, its two possibly habitable moons — Titan and Enceladus — and its gorgeous rings.

But as the world waited for Cassini’s final radio messages to reach Earth, the planet’s Twitter users could hardly stand it. #GrandFinale and #GoodbyeCassini were two hashtags used to thank the craft for its service.

MUST READ: Cassini begins its daring death dive towards Saturn

NASA then confirmed at around 1.57pm SAST that it has received the final transmission from Cassini before it burnt up in Saturn’s atmosphere.

“Our spacecraft has entered Saturn’s atmosphere, and we have received its final transmission,” it tweeted, three minutes before 2pm SAST.

Our spacecraft has entered Saturn’s atmosphere, and we have received its final transmission.

— CassiniSaturn (@CassiniSaturn) September 15, 2017

Things then got very emotional.

Every time we see Saturn in the night sky, we’ll remember. We’ll smile. And we’ll want to go back. #GrandFinale #GoodbyeCassini #Cassini pic.twitter.com/6tzJ4N9Jif

— CassiniSaturn (@CassiniSaturn) September 15, 2017

Earth received @CassiniSaturn’s final signal at 7:55am ET. Cassini is now part of the planet it studied. Thanks for the science #GrandFinale pic.twitter.com/YfSTeeqbz1

— NASA (@NASA) September 15, 2017

*Sniff*

Twitter users joined in the tears, posting their thank yous and final goodbyes.

It’s too early in the morning to be crying on my breakfast sandwich

— 🤔 (@pradyface) September 15, 2017

Thank you Cassini 😢 pic.twitter.com/ypBvGdA9Zx

— Sasala RW (@SRoshinieW) September 15, 2017

sleep well sweet prince

— joe (@goulcher) September 15, 2017

Goodbye. pic.twitter.com/xy2FVxNFO3

— Martinacci Gabriele (@MartinacciGabri) September 15, 2017

Thank you for #Cassini ❤️ feeling a bit emotional…. pic.twitter.com/uGwJxQ1khT

— Ponj (@Goody_yum_yum) September 15, 2017

pic.twitter.com/R2vrvOriO3

— jimmy vice (@jamadacaj) September 15, 2017

sleep well sweet prince

— joe (@goulcher) September 15, 2017

“Goodbye, Cassini. I know you were just a machine but, man, this is an emotional moment,” read one tweet.

And we can’t help but feel the same way.

Goodbye, Cassini. I know you were just a machine but, man, this is an emotional moment.

— Henrique Castro (@h_csj) September 15, 2017

Feature image: NASA/@CassiniSaturn via Twitter