Rosetta (spacecraft)
The Rosetta spacecraft, named after the Rosetta Stone, was a cornerstone mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) designed to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Launched on March 2, 2004, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, Rosetta embarked on a 10-year journey to rendezvous with its target comet.
Mission Objectives
- Characterize the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
- Investigate the comet's dynamic environment and its interaction with solar wind.
- Examine the chemical composition of the comet's nucleus and its evolution over time.
- Analyze the physical properties of the dust and gas in the comet's coma and tail.
- Explore the comet's surface through lander experiments.
Spacecraft Design and Instruments
Rosetta was equipped with a suite of sophisticated instruments:
- ALICE - An ultraviolet imaging spectrograph to analyze gases in the comet's coma.
- COSIMA - A secondary ion mass spectrometer for dust analysis.
- GIRO - An ion and electron sensor to study solar wind interaction with the comet.
- MIRO - A microwave instrument to measure subsurface temperatures.
- OSIRIS - An optical, spectroscopic, and infrared remote imaging system.
- Philae - A lander module designed to touch down on the comet's surface and perform in-situ experiments.
Key Events
- Launch: March 2, 2004.
- Gravity Assists: Rosetta used flybys of Earth (three times) and Mars to adjust its trajectory, conserving fuel for the long journey.
- Rendezvous with Comet 67P: August 6, 2014, when Rosetta became the first spacecraft to orbit a comet.
- Philae Landing: November 12, 2014, Philae successfully landed on the comet, though it initially bounced due to the comet's low gravity.
- End of Mission: On September 30, 2016, after all its fuel was depleted, Rosetta was intentionally crashed onto the comet to study its surface up close and to avoid contamination by other spacecraft in the future.
Scientific Discoveries
- Discovery of water vapor on the comet, suggesting that comets could have delivered water to Earth.
- Observations of organic molecules, hinting at the role comets might play in the origin of life.
- Detailed mapping of the comet's nucleus, revealing its unique "rubber duck" shape.
- Study of the comet's activity, including outbursts and the formation of its coma and tail.
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