Cassini dives between Saturn’s rings

The probe has already returned the closest view of the rings ever seen

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has performed its first dive between the planet Saturn and its rings. During the manouvre, beginning at 09:00 UT on 26 April, the probe came within 3,000km of Saturn’s cloud tops and was just 300km from the inner edge of the rings.

“No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before. We could only rely on predictions based on our experience with Saturn’s other rings, of what we thought this gap between the rings and Saturn would be like,” said Cassini project manager Earl Maize. “I am delighted to report that Cassini shot through the gap just as we planned and has come out the other side in excellent shape.”

The spacecraft used its main antenna as a shield from ice particles as it plunged through the gap at 124,000km/h. Another 22 dives are planned, after which the probe will be crashed into Saturn. saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

These unprocessed images shows features in Saturn’s atmosphere from closer than ever before. The view was captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft during its first ‘Grand Finale’ dive past the planet on 26 April 2017