Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977, atop a Titan IIIE rocket with a Centaur third stage, and a further Star-37 upper stage. Although launched 16 days before Voyager 1, Voyager 2 was placed on a less-direct path to Jupiter and Saturn, which would enable it to also visit Uranus and Neptune, thus completing the Planetary Grand Tour.