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![Cassini spacecraft carved into pumpkin.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cover-jpg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
Cassini's final pumpkin carving contest.
Halloween has always been a special time for Cassini. The mission's unofficial color is orange (very much like Titan's atmosphere). Each year various mission teams compete for bragging rights - and a little trophy - with a pumpkin carving contest.
With Cassini mission measuring time in months, Halloween 2016 is our last traditional pumpkin carving contest. So it's not surprising some of the entries featured good-natured gallows humor.
Here's a rundown of the final contest. Scroll down to find out who came out on top:
![Public Engagement Pumpkins](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/555_Public_Engagement_Pumpkins-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
Sixty-two knitted pumpkins - one for each moon of Saturn - made this entry stand out.
![Instrument Operations Team](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/556_Instrument_Operations_Team-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
The Instrument Operations team entry focused on Cassini's spectacular orbit insertion burn in 2004.
![Navigation Team Pumpkin](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/557_Navigation_Team_Pumpkin-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
The navigators who plotted Cassini's final plunge into Saturn next September recreated the plunge with an interactive pumpkin - featuring a catapult to send virtual Cassini's into Saturn.
![Spacecraft Operations Pumpkin](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/558_Spacecraft_Operations_Pumpkin-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
A little gallows humor. Cassini, on the edge of her grave, in the Great Galactic Ghoul graveyard, resting place of missions past.
![Science Planning and Instruments Team Pumpkin](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/563_2016_Halloween_Winnter-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
The science planning folks went all out with an elaborate funeral procession for Cassini, featuring current missions, and a two-tiered graveyard for missions of the past.
![Cassini Funeral Pumpkin](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/560_Cassini_Funeral_Pumpkin-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
Barbecue ash, an angelic Cassini and Cassini Program Manager Earl Maize delivering a eulogy were all part of the winning entry.
![Robot mourner](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/561_Robot_mourner-jpeg.webp?w=4096&format=png)
A detail shot of a robot mourner in the Cassini funeral procession.
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Last Updated
Jan 24, 2024
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NASA Science Editorial Team
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