Correct option is D
The mission made significant discoveries, such as detecting hydrothermal activity on Enceladus, revealing the seasonal changes in Saturn’s system, and studying the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s rings.
Important Key Points:
- Cassini launched on October 15, 1997, and reached Saturn on July 1, 2004.
- The mission included the Huygens probe, which studied Titan.
- Cassini's mission lasted for 13 years at Saturn, ending with a "Grand Finale" in 2017.
- It detected water plumes on Enceladus, indicating the potential for life.
- The spacecraft provided high-resolution images of Saturn's rings and atmosphere.
- Cassini’s data contributed to understanding the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
Knowledge Booster:
- Mercury (a): The MESSENGER spacecraft (not Cassini) was dedicated to exploring Mercury.
- Jupiter (b): NASA's Galileo and Juno spacecraft were designed for studying Jupiter.
- Neptune (c): Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have visited Neptune, performing a flyby in 1989.