I had an idea for a mission to fly into and about the rings of Saturn
from a while ago.

Deposit multiple probes that look like soccer balls throughout the rings.
Let them drift around, taking images and being designed to handle
bumping into ring particles large and small. They could "stick" to
certain larger particles to do analysis.

Yes, I know about the need to slow into the Saturn system so these
probes can be deposited without smashing into the ring debris. I am
focusing on the probes' mission here.

If NASA or anyone else is worried about contamination, the probes
could be sent into Saturn's atmosphere (they would have small jets
used only when necessary and for this removal purpose as well) at
mission end where they could provide information on the planet's upper
atmosphere before they burn up.

Fascinating image of the debris shadows, BTW. Never thought I would
see that during the Cassini mission. The definite advantages of an
orbiter over a flyby mission.