Rosetta

ESA's Rosetta spacecraft will be the first to undertake the long-term exploration of a comet at close quarters. It comprises a large orbiter, which is designed to operate for a decade at large distances from the Sun, and a small lander. Each of these carries a large complement of scientific experiments designed to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever attempted.

After entering orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014, the spacecraft will release a small lander onto the icy nucleus, then spend the next two years orbiting the comet as it heads towards the Sun. On the way to Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta will receive gravity assists from Earth and Mars, and fly past main belt asteroids.

Links

• European Space Agency's Science and Technology Website on Rosetta
• Eurpean Space Agency's Rosetta Website

People

Paul Weissman Planetary Ices Read More >>		Samuel Gulkis Astrophysics & Space Sciences Read More >>
Michael Janssen Astronomical Instrumentation Read More >>