On 7 Sep 2005 12:49:33 -0700, wrote:

I just found out that Cassini will *never* fly close enough to get a
picture of the rings that resolves individual particles (large rocks or
ice chunks). Why not??

The two Ring Plane Crossings during Saturn Orbit Insertion were the
most dangerous phases of the mission. Cassini recorded thousands of
micrometeoroid (ring dust) impacts during RPC. JPL doesn't dare fly
that close to the rings again due to the danger of a catastrophic
impact.

Maybe they'll risk it whe the mission starts to wind down. A couple of
well-aimed Titan flybys can put Cassini back down close to the rings
at little cost in propellant.

Brian