OTD in Space – June 24: Unmanned Spacecraft’s 2nd Venus Flyby

On June 24, 1999, NASA's Cassini spacecraft flew by Venus while making its way to Saturn. Taking advantage Venus's gravity, Cassini gained enough momentum during the encounter to slingshot out past the asteroid belt. This was actually the second time Cassini swooped around Venus for a so-called gravitational-assist flyby. It passed within 3,700 miles of the planet's surface before flinging out into the solar system. After Venus, it flew by Earth, the Moon, and Jupiter before arriving at Saturn. The whole trip from Venus to Saturn took about five years!