The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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On 3 May 2005, for an Earth observer, the Cassini spacecraft appeared to pass behind the rings, then Saturn, then the rings again (the red line). A harmonic structure was discovered both, on the way in and out, but only in locations where icy particles are densely packed together, such as the B-ring and the innermost part of the A-ring.
A radio experiment performed by Cassini on 3 May and several others that followed in 2005 showed that the regular spacing of the harmonic structure varies from 100 to 250 m, depending on the location in the rings.