Rosetta Spacecraft
The Rosetta spacecraft was a space probe launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the primary mission to study and perform a detailed examination of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Here are some key facts and details about the mission:
Launch and Journey
- Launch: Rosetta was launched on March 2, 2004, from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
- Journey: The spacecraft embarked on a 10-year journey to reach its target comet, making several flybys of Earth and Mars to gain speed through gravity assists.
Mission Objectives
- To study the composition, physical properties, and behavior of a comet as it approached the Sun.
- To observe how a comet's behavior changes as it gets closer to solar heat.
- To deploy a lander (Philae lander) onto the comet's surface for in-situ analysis.
- To investigate the role comets may have played in the early solar system and the origin of life on Earth.
Philae Lander
- The Philae lander was successfully deployed on November 12, 2014, becoming the first spacecraft to land on a comet.
- Philae's mission was to analyze the comet's surface, including drilling into the comet to study its composition.
- Due to a malfunction in its anchoring system, Philae bounced several times before coming to rest in a shaded area, limiting its power and operational time.
Scientific Discoveries
- Water Ice: Rosetta found evidence of water ice on the comet's surface, supporting theories that comets could have delivered water to Earth.
- Organic Molecules: The spacecraft detected a variety of organic molecules, including amino acids, which are building blocks of life.
- Comet Activity: Observations showed how the comet's activity increased as it approached the Sun, with jets of gas and dust being expelled.
End of Mission
- The mission ended on September 30, 2016, when Rosetta was intentionally crashed onto the comet's surface to collect close-up data during its descent.
- The final images and data were transmitted back to Earth, providing unprecedented details about the comet's surface features.
Legacy
The Rosetta mission has significantly advanced our understanding of comets, their role in solar system formation, and the potential origins of life. The mission's success has paved the way for future deep space exploration missions.
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