Rosetta (spacecraft)
robotic space probe
Rosetta was an ESA space probe. It went on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The Rosetta mission had two parts: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket. On 12 November 2014 Philae landed but soon lost electrical power and radio contact. Rosetta continued to examine the comet from orbit until 30 September 2016 when it landed.
 Artist's illustration of Rosetta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission type | Comet orbiter/lander | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | ESA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COSPAR ID | 2004-006A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATCAT no. | 28169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | esa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission duration | Final: 12 years, 6 months, 28 days | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Astrium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch mass | Orbiter: 2,900 kg (6,400 lb) Lander: 100 kg (220 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dry mass | Orbiter: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payload mass | Orbiter: 165 kg (364 lb) Lander: 27 kg (60 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 2.8 × 2.1 × 2 m (9.2 × 6.9 × 6.6 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | 850 watts at 3.4 AU[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch date | 2 March 2004, 07:17:51 UTC[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket | Ariane 5G+ V-158 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractor | Arianespace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposal | Deorbited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last contact | 30 September 2016, 10:39:28 UTC SCET | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Landing site | Sais, Ma'at region[3] 2 years, 55 days of operations at the comet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Mars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 25 February 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 250 km (160 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of 2867 Šteins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 5 September 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 800 km (500 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of 21 Lutetia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 10 July 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,162 km (1,965 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko orbiter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital insertion | 6 August 2014, 09:06 UTC[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbit parameters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Periapsis | 29 km (18 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transponders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Band | S band (low gain antenna) X band (high gain antenna) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bandwidth | from 7.8 bit/s (S band)[5] up to 91 kbit/s (X band)[6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References
change- ↑ "Rosetta at a glance — technical data and timeline". German Aerospace Center. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ↑ "No. 1 - Rosetta in Good Health". Status Reports. European Space Agency. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ↑ Baldwin, Emily (3 October 2016). "Rosetta impact site named Sais". European Space Agency. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ↑ "Rosetta timeline: countdown to comet arrival". European Space Agency. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ↑ "No. 2 — Activating Rosetta". European Space Agency. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ↑ "We are working on flight control and science operations for Rosetta, now orbiting comet 67P, and Philae, which landed on the comet surface last week. Ask us Anything! AMA!". Reddit. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
