2007-10-24 07:53:42 · 6 answers · asked by Taylor 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Cassini spacecraft flew through the rings. At least it flew through one of the gaps.
The ring system is incredibly thin (10-30m) and the total amount of matter a spacecraft would collide with is small enough to survive with the right precautions.
If a specially designed spacecraft flew into the rings at just the same speed, it could probably stay indefinitely inside and analyze them chemically because the relative speed of particles inside the rings is very low.
2007-10-24 08:07:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well Cassini did it. Actually the Cassini spacecraft passed safely through a gap in the rings.
2007-10-24 08:00:09 · answer #2 · answered by Rusko 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't recommend it, some parts of the ring system are as big as a house. Even dust sized particles would cause problems to a spacecraft's propulsion system.
2007-10-24 07:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by Shygurl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's been done, to a degree... the rings don't end at a definite border - there are particles beyond and inside the rings we see - Pionner 11 and both Voyagers were equipped with particle impact sensors, and they were struck many times by minute particles as the traversed the ring plain.
However... I'd avoid it if at all possible.
2007-10-24 08:09:17 · answer #4 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kinda depends, the stuff we have today would be blown up in a heartbeat, the shuttle might last a few minutes but everyone inside would be dead, so really nothing we have used could take that kinda rock collision.
at that point a pea sized rock has the force of a 50 cal bullet
2007-10-24 07:59:28 · answer #5 · answered by zspace101 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
not likely. in order to fly through the rings, which would wipe your ship out, the ship would probably be captured by Saturn's gravity and crash
2007-10-24 08:06:08 · answer #6 · answered by Loren S 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋