NASA has released never-before-seen images of Saturn from above and below its rings. The pictures have been beamed to Earth by the international Cassini spacecraft.

Scientists say they've been waiting for these images for years as it gives unique perspectives of the planet.

The Cassini space mission is a joint project funded by NASA, the European and Italian space agencies. The spacecraft uses a plutonium power source in its travel through the Solar system.

It was launched in 1997 and has been managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.