NASA's Cassini spacecraft makes first-ever journey through Saturn and its rings

NASA engineers waited with bated breath for 78 minutes as the Cassini spacecraft used its antenna as a shield to journey through the narrow passage between Saturn and its rings.

Engineers had no way of knowing if the satellite successfully undertook the first-ever journey through the rings of Saturn until it started sending raw images of the voyage back to Earth.

While the journey took 78 minutes, it will take years and possibly decades to analyse and interpret the data collected by Cassini.

"No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before. We could only rely on predictions, based on our experience with Saturn's other rings, of what we thought this gap between the rings and Saturn would be like," Cassini project manager Earl Maize said.

"I am delighted to report that Cassini shot through the gap just as we planned and has come out the other side in excellent shape."

Cassini is the first space probe to enter Saturn's orbit, after having studied it for 12 years.

In December, Cassini beamed back the first images of Saturn's rings up-close.

The spacecraft is set to be destroyed by Saturn's atmosphere later this year.