NASA successfully pilots spacecraft between Saturn and its rings

NASA announced Thursday morning its Cassini spacecraft was successful in its historic first divethrough the gap between Saturn and its rings.

The unmanned Cassini is back in radio contact with Earth after entering the gap Wednesday in the first mission of its kind.

The spacecraft is in the process of beaming back images and data collected during its passage using NASA's Deep Space Network Goldstone Complex in California's Mojave Desert, NASA announcedin a written statement.

"In the grandest tradition of exploration, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has once again blazed a trail, showing us new wonders and demonstrating where our curiosity can take us if we dare," said Jim Green, director of the planetary science division at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Cassinicame within 3,000 kilometres of Saturn's cloud tops and within about 300 kilometres of the innermost of the planet's iconic rings.

It zipped through theregion at about 124,000 km/h, meaning thatif small icy particles floating near the rings had hita sensitive area of the spacecraft, itcould potentially have beendisabled.

"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 Cassiniproject manager Earl Maize of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

"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," said Maize.

To protect the spacecraft, its large, dish-shaped antenna was used as a shield by orienting in the direction of oncoming ring particles. As a result, Cassini was out of contact for a period during the crossing.

The spacecraft will make 21more such crossings, the next of which is scheduled for May 2.

The mission is being referred to as Cassini's "grand finale," the capstone event for the spacecraft, which has been orbiting Saturn for 13 years.

While the 4-month finale is risky, there's little to lose given the spacecraft's fuel tank is nearly empty and its fatal plunge into Saturn is expected in mid-September.

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