NASA Saturn probe beams back first images from new orbit

Washington: Since beginning the latest phase of its mission, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has sent to Earth its first views of Saturns atmosphere -- showing scenes from high above the planet's northern hemisphere, including an intriguing hexagon-shaped jet stream.

Cassini began its new mission phase, called its Ring-Grazing Orbits, on November 30.

Each of these weeklong orbits -- 20 in all -- carries the spacecraft high above Saturn's northern hemisphere before sending it skimming past the outer edges of the planet's main rings.

Cassini's imaging cameras acquired these latest views on December 2 and 3, about two days before the first ring-grazing approach to the planet, NASA said.

Future passes will include images from near closest approach, including some of the closest-ever views of the outer rings and small moons that orbit there.

"This is it, the beginning of the end of our historic exploration of Saturn. Let these images -- and those to come -- remind you that we've lived a bold and daring adventure around the solar system's most magnificent planet," said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team lead at Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colorado.

The next pass by the rings' outer edges is planned for December 11.