Two scientists, one deadly destination: NASA thinks it can be done

For centuries, space has fascinated humans like no other. From the sun's glare to the moon's surface and even Saturn's shimmering rings, we have wanted to go up close and see it all. Now, two ambitious NASA-backed projects aim to truly touch Saturn's rings, venturing into what is known as one of the most dangerous environments in the solar system.Selected under NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) programme, the proposals envision futuristic robotic explorers that could not only sample Saturn's icy rings for the first time but also deploy thousands of tiny spacecraft to fly through them, unlocking mysteries that have puzzled scientists since the Cassini mission ended in 2017.The first projectThe first concept is called PRAXIS or Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling. It proposes what would amount to the first-ever "touch and go" mission to Saturn's rings. The project will be led by Dr B.