When NASA ’s Cassini spacecraft dove between Saturn and its ringsthe other dayon April 26 , there was a significant risk of risk . scientist were n’t certain how much debris would be in this region , but astonishingly , it turns out there was very little .

This was the close a spacecraft has ever been to Saturn , with Cassini diving event just 3,000 km ( 1,900 miles )   from its cloud pinnacle as part of its Grand Finale phase angle . Being inside the ring , military mission scientists retrieve they might encounter junk particles that could damage the spacecraft , which was travel at a comparative speed of 124,000 kilometers per hour ( 77,000 mile per hour ) .

To ensure the spacecraft outlast , they pointed its magnanimous 4 - meter - wide ( 13 substructure ) antenna forwards , used to communicate with Earth , to steep the shock . Anything hitting the dish would make a noticeable ping that would let scientists lie with what was there . And there was n’t much .

" It was a bit disorientate – we were n’t hearing what we expect to learn , " allege William Kurth , team leader for Cassini ’s Radio and Plasma Wave Science ( RPWS ) instrumental role , one of two in the antenna , in astatement . " I ’ve listened to our data point from the first dive several time and I can belike number on my hands the number of detritus particle impacts I hear . "

you may hear the sound below , made by the RPWS tool   recording the atom striking the antenna . It ’s spookily muted .

In fact , Cassini seemed to only hit a few particles , and none were larger than those find in smoke , which are about 1 micrometer ( 0.000001 metre ) across . This leave scientists to call the 2,000 - kilometre - wide ( 1,200 naut mi ) region “ the big empty ” .

This means that for most of its 21 future dives through this part , Cassini will not need to apply its feeler as a buckler in this means again , open up new possibilities for using its instruments . The antenna will be pointed forwards on just four of the dives , those that go closest to the inner border of the pack .

The next close passing of Saturn for Cassini is taking place today at 3.38pm EDT ( 8.38pm BST ) , in a similar region to that explored   the other day . The space vehicle wo n’t be sending data back until tomorrow , though , but judging by the late images , it should be reasonably impressive .