Posted: Sat, Nov 2, 2002, 9:51 AM ET (1451 GMT)
NASA's Cassini spacecraft, launched five years ago, has returned its first image of Saturn while still en route to the ringed planet. NASA released an image Friday showing both Saturn and its largest moon, Titan. The image was taken while the spacecraft was still 285 million kilometers and 20 months away from the planet. Scientists said that the image confirms that the spacecraft's camera is working fine, and will also aid in their planning efforts. Cassini, launched in October 1997, is scheduled to enter orbit around the planet on July 1, 2004. It will release Huygens, a European probe that will fly through Titan's atmosphere, in early 2005.

Related Links:

•  University of Arizona press release
•  SPACE.com article
•  AP article