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Rosetta

Rosetta probe

Computer model of Rosetta

Mission type Comet orbiter/lander

Operator European Space Agency

COSPAR ID 2004-006A

SATCAT № 28169

Website www.esa.int/rosetta

Mission duration 10 years, 5 months and 10 days elapsed

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 UTC

Rocket Ariane 5G+ V-158

Launch site Kourou ELA-3

Contractor Arianespace

Flyby of Mars

Closest approach 25 February 2007

Distance 250 km (160 mi)

Rosetta (spacecraft)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Rosetta is a robotic space probe built andlaunched by the European Space Agency to

perform a detailed study of comet

67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.[4][5] On 6 August

2014 it approached the comet to a distance of

about 100 km (62 mi) and reduced its relative

velocity to 1 m/s (3.3 ft/s), thus becoming the first

spacecraft to rendezvous with a comet (previous

missions have conducted successful flybys of seven

other comets).[6] Following further manoeuvres, itwill enter orbit after approaching to 30 km (19 mi)

about 6 weeks later.[7][8] It is part of the ESA

Horizon 2000 cornerstone missions and is the first

mission designed to both orbit and land on a

comet.[9]

Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 on an

Ariane 5 rocket and reached the comet on 6

August 2014.[10] The spacecraft consists of two

main elements: the Rosetta space probe orbiter,which features 12 instruments, and the Philae

robotic lander, with an additional nine

instruments.[11] The Rosetta mission will orbit67P/C-G for 17 months and is designed tocomplete the most detailed study of a comet ever

attempted. The mission is controlled from theEuropean Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in

Darmstadt, Germany.[12]

The probe is named after the Rosetta Stone, a stele

of Egyptian origin featuring a decree in three

scripts. The lander is named after the Nile island

Philae, where an obelisk was discovered with

inscriptions. A comparison of the hieroglyphs on

the Rosetta Stone and the obelisk catalysed the

deciphering of the Egyptian writing system.

Similarly, it is hoped that these spacecraft will resultin better understanding of comets and the early

Solar System.[13][14] In a more direct analogy to its

namesake the Rosetta spacecraft also carries a

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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[2]

Orbit parameters

Periapsis 200 km (120 mi) planned

Transponders

Band S band (low gain antenna)

X band (high gain antenna)

Bandwidth 7.8 bit/s (S band)

22 kbit/s (X band)[3]

Instruments

ALICE: Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer

CONSERT: COmet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by

Radio wave Transmission

COSIMA: COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer

GIADA: Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator

MIDAS: Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System

MIRO: Microwave Spectrometer for the Rosetta Orbiter

OSIRIS: Optical, Spectroscopic, and InfraRed Remote

Imaging System

ROSINA: Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and

Neutral Analysis

RPC Rosetta Plasma Consortium

RSI: Radio Science Investigation

VIRTIS: Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging

Spectrometer

micro-etched nickel alloy Rosetta disc donated by

the Long Now Foundation inscribed with 13,000

pages of text in 1200 different languages.[15]

The spacecraft has already performed two asteroid

flyby missions on its way to the comet.[16] In 2007,

Rosetta also performed a Mars swing-by (flyby),

and returned images.[17] The craft completed its

fly-by of asteroid 2867 Šteins in September 2008

and of 21 Lutetia in July 2010.[18] On 20 January

2014, Rosetta was taken out of a 31-month

hibernation mode and continued towards the

comet.[19][20] Over the following months, a series

of thruster burns slowed Rosetta relative to 67P/C-

G, and Rosetta rendezvoused with the comet on 6

August 2014.[21]

Contents

[hide]

1 Mission overview

1.1 Background

1.2 Mission firsts

1.3 Construction

1.4 Launch

1.5 Deep space manoeuvres

1.6 Orbit around 67P/C-G

1.7 Philae lander

2 Search for organic compounds

3 Instruments

3.1 Core

3.2 Gas and particles

3.3 Solar wind interaction

4 Reaction control system problems

5 Misidentification

6 Timeline of major events and discoveries

7 See also

8 References

9 External links

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Mission overview[edit]

Background[edit]

Play media

A nine-minute-long video report by

the DLR about the Rosetta mission.(Full HD; English)

During the 1986 approach of Halley's Comet, international space probes were sent to explore the comet, most

prominent among them being ESA's Giotto. After the probes returned valuable scientific information, it becameobvious that follow-ons were needed that would shed more light on cometary composition and answer new

questions.

Both ESA and NASA started cooperatively developing new probes. The NASA project was the CometRendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) mission. The ESA project was the follow-on Comet Nucleus Sample

Return (CNSR) mission. Both missions were to share the Mariner Mark II spacecraft design, thus minimisingcosts. In 1992, after NASA cancelled CRAF due to budgetary limitations, ESA decided to develop a CRAF-style project on its own. By 1993 it was evident that the ambitious sample return mission was unfeasible with the

existing ESA budget, so the mission was redesigned, with the final flight plan resembling the cancelled CRAFmission, an asteroid flyby followed by a comet rendezvous with in-situ examination, including a lander.

Mission firsts[edit]

The Rosetta mission will achieve many historic firsts.[22]

On its way to comet 67P/C-G, Rosetta passed through the main asteroid belt, and made the first European

close encounter with several of these primitive objects. Rosetta was the first spacecraft to fly close to Jupiter'sorbit using solar cells as its main power source.

Rosetta will be the first spacecraft to orbit a comet nucleus,[23] and the first spacecraft to fly alongside a comet

as it heads towards the inner Solar System. It will be the first spacecraft to examine at close proximity how afrozen comet is transformed by the warmth of the Sun. Shortly after its arrival at 67P/C-G, the Rosetta orbiter

will dispatch a robotic lander for the first controlled touchdown on a comet nucleus. The Philae lander's

instruments will obtain the first images from a comet's surface and make the first in-situ analysis of its

composition.

Construction[edit]

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Rosetta was built in a clean room according to COSPAR rules, but "sterilisation [was] generally not crucial since

comets are usually regarded as objects where you can find prebiotic molecules, that is, molecules that are

precursors of life, but not living microorganisms",[24] according to Gerhard Schwehm, Rosetta 's Project

Scientist.

Launch[edit]

Rosetta was set to be launched on 12 January 2003 to rendezvous with the comet 46P/Wirtanen in 2011.

Trajectory of the Rosetta space probe

However, this plan was abandoned after a failure of the Ariane 5 carrier rocket during a communications satellite

launch on 11 December 2002, grounding it until the cause of the failure could be determined. A new plan was

formed to target the comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko, with a revised launch date of 26 February 2004 and

comet rendezvous in 2014. The larger mass and the resulting increased impact velocity made modification of the

landing gear necessary.[25] After two scrubbed launch attempts, Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 at 7:17GMT from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Aside from the changes made to launch time and target,

the mission profile remains almost identical.

Deep space manoeuvres[edit]

To achieve the required velocity to rendezvous with 67P/C-G, Rosetta used gravity assist manoeuvres toaccelerate throughout the Inner solar system. The comet's orbit was known before Rosetta 's launch, from

ground-based measurements, to an accuracy of approximately 100 km (62 mi). Information gathered by the

onboard cameras beginning at a distance of 24 million kilometres (15,000,000 mi) were processed at ESA'sOperation Centre to refine the position of the comet in its orbit to a few kilometres. The first flyby of Earth

occurred on 4 March 2005.

On 25 February 2007, the craft was scheduled for a low-altitude bypass of Mars, to correct the trajectory afterthe first launch attempt in 2003 was delayed by one year. This was not without risk, as the estimated altitude of

the flyover manoeuvre was a mere 250 kilometres (160 mi). During that encounter the solar panels could not be

used since the craft was in the planet's shadow, where it would not receive any solar light for 15 minutes, causing

a dangerous shortage of power. The craft was therefore put into standby mode, with no possibility to

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communicate, flying on batteries that were originally not designed for this task.[26] This Mars manoeuvre was

therefore nicknamed "The Billion Euro Gamble".[27] Fortunately, the flyby was successful and the mission

continued as planned.[28]

The second Earth flyby occurred on 13 November 2007.[29][30] In 2007, as it approached Earth for a fly-by,

the spacecraft was briefly designated as minor planet 2007 VN84 due to it being misidentified as an asteroid.

The spacecraft performed a close flyby of asteroid 2867 Šteins on 5 September 2008. Its onboard cameraswere used to fine-tune the trajectory, achieving a minimum separation of less than 800 km (500 mi). Onboard

instruments measured the asteroid from 4 August to 10 September. Maximum relative speed between the two

objects during the flyby was 8.6 km/s (19,000 mph; 31,000 km/h).[31]

Rosetta 's third and final flyby of Earth happened on 12 November 2009.[32]

In May 2014, Rosetta began a series of eight deceleration burns. These reduced the relative velocity between

the spacecraft and 67P/C-G from 775 m/s (2,540 ft/s) to 7.9 m/s (26 ft/s).[10]

Orbit around 67P/C-G[edit]

In August 2014, Rosetta rendezvoused with the comet, commencing an approach to it on a triangular path

whose segments are hyperbolic escape trajectories, alternating with thruster burns.[7][8] After closing to within

about 30 km (19 mi) from the comet the spacecraft will enter actual orbit about it,[7][8] in preparation for

releasing a lander that will make contact with the comet itself. The exact surface layout of the comet is currently

unknown and the orbiter has been built to map this before detaching the lander. It is anticipated that a suitable

landing site can be found, although few specific details exist regarding the surface.[33]

Philae lander[edit]

The lander, named Philae, will approach Churyumov–Gerasimenko at relative speed around 1 m/s (2.2 mph;3.6 km/h) and on contact with the surface, two harpoons will be fired into the comet to prevent the lander from

bouncing off. Additional drills are used to further secure the lander on the comet.

After its attachment to the comet, expected to take place in November 2014, the lander will begin its sciencemission:

Characterisation of the nucleus

Determination of the chemical compounds present, including enantiomers[34]

Study of comet activities and developments over time

Search for organic compounds[edit]

Previous observations have shown that comets contain complex organic compounds.[35][36][37][38] These are

molecules that are rich in carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These are the elements that make up nucleic

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acids and amino acids, essential ingredients for life as we know it. Comets are thought to have delivered a vast

quantity of water to Earth, and they may have also seeded Earth with organic molecules.[39] Rosetta and Philaewill also search for organic molecules, nucleic acids (the building blocks of DNA and RNA) and amino acids

(the building blocks of proteins) by sampling and analyzing the comet's nucleus and coma cloud of gas and

dust,[39] helping assess the contribution comets made to the beginnings of life on Earth.[35]

Amino acids

Two enantiomers of a generic amino acid

Upon landing on the comet, Rosetta will also test some hypotheses as to why essential amino acids are almost all

"left-handed," which refers to how the atoms arrange in orientation in relation to the carbon core of the

molecule.[40] Most asymmetrical molecules are oriented in approximately equal numbers of left- and right-

handed configurations (chirality), and the primarily left-handed structure of essential amino acids used by living

organisms is an anomaly. One of the hypothesis that will be tested was proposed in 1983 by William A. Bonnerand Edward Rubenstein, Stanford University professors emeritus of chemistry and medicine respectively. They

conjectured that when spiraling radiation is generated from a supernova, the circular polarization of that radiation

could then destroy one type of "handed" molecules. The supernova could wipe out one type of molecules while

also flinging the other surviving molecules into space, where they could eventually end up on a planet.[41]

Instruments[edit]

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Mockup of Philae

Core[edit]

The investigation of the core is done by three spectroscopes, one microwave radio antenna and one radar:

ALICE (an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph). The ultraviolet spectrograph will search for and quantify the

noble gas content in the comet core, from which the temperature during the comet creation could be

estimated. The detection is done by an array of potassium bromide and caesium iodide photocathodes.

The 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) instrument uses 2.9 watts and was produced in the USA, and an improved version is

used in the New Horizons spacecraft. It operates in the extreme and far ultraviolet spectrum, between 700

and 2,050 ångströms (70 and 205 nm).[42][43]

OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System). The camera system has a

narrow-angle lens (700 mm) and a wide-angle lens (140 mm), with a 2048×2048 pixel CCD chip. The

instrument was constructed in Germany.[44]

VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer). The Visible and IR spectrometer is able

to make pictures of the core in the IR and also search for IR spectra of molecules in the coma. The

detection is done by a mercury cadmium teluride array for IR and with a CCD chip for the visible

wavelength range. The instrument was produced in Italy, and improved versions were used for Dawn and

Venus Express.[45]

MIRO (Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter). The abundance and temperature of volatile

substances like water, ammonia and carbon dioxide can be detected by MIRO via their microwave

emissions. The 30 cm (12 in) radio antenna was constructed in Germany, while the rest of the 18.5 kg

(41 lb) instrument was provided by the USA.

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CONSERT (Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission). The CONSERT

experiment will provide information about the deep interior of the comet using a radar. The radar will

perform tomography of the nucleus by measuring electromagnetic wave propagation between the Philae

lander and the Rosetta orbiter through the comet nucleus. This allows it to determine the comet's internal

structure and deduce information on its composition. The electronics were developed by France and both

antennas were constructed in Germany.[46]

RSI (Radio Science Investigation). RSI makes use of the probe's communication system for physical

investigation of the nucleus and the inner coma of the comet.[47]

Gas and particles[edit]

ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis). The instrument consists of a

double-focus magnetic mass spectrometer DFMS and a reflectron type time of flight mass spectrometer

RTOF. The DFMS has a high resolution (can resolve N2 from CO) for molecules up to 300 amu. The

RTOF is highly sensitive for neutral molecules and for ions.[48]

MIDAS (Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System). The high-resolution atomic force microscope will

investigate several physical aspects of the dust particles which are deposited on a silicon plate.[49]

COSIMA (Cometary Secondary Ion Mass Analyser). COSIMA analyses the composition of dust

particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry, after the surface is cleaned by indium ions. It can analyse

ions up to a mass of 4000 amu.[50]

GIADA (Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator)[51]

Solar wind interaction[edit]

RPC (Rosetta Plasma Consortium).[52][53]

Reaction control system problems[edit]

In 2006, Rosetta suffered a leak in its reaction control system (RCS).[54] The system, which consists of 24

bipropellant 10-newton thrusters,[10] is responsible for fine tuning the trajectory of Rosetta throughout its

journey. The RCS will operate at a lower pressure than designed due to the leak. This may cause the propellants

to mix incompletely and so burn 'dirtier' and less efficiently, though ESA engineers are confident that they have

sufficient fuel reserves to allow successful completion of the mission.[55]

Rosetta 's reaction wheels are showing higher than expected vibration, though testing revealed the system can be

operated more efficiently resulting in less wear on the wheels. Before hibernation, two of the spacecraft's four

reaction wheels began exhibiting "noise". Engineers turned on three of the wheels after the spacecraft awoke,

including one of the bad wheels. The other improperly functioning wheel will be held in reserve. Additionally, new

software was uploaded which would allow Rosetta to function with only two active reaction wheels if

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necessary.[54][56]

Misidentification[edit]

In November 2007, during its second flyby, the Rosetta spacecraft was mistaken for a near-Earth asteroid and

given the designation 2007 VN84. Based upon images taken by a 0.68-metre telescope of the Catalina Sky

Survey, an astronomer 'discovered' the spacecraft and misidentified it as an asteroid about 20 m (66 ft) in

diameter, and performed a trajectory calculation showing that it would make its closest flyby of the Earth at a

distance of 5,700 km (3,500 mi) on 13 November 2007. This extremely close approach (in astronomical terms)

led to speculation that 2007 VN84 might be at risk of impacting the Earth.[57] However, astronomer Denis

Denisenko recognised that the trajectory matched that of the Rosetta probe, which was performing a flyby of

Earth en route to its rendezvous with a comet.[58] The Minor Planet Center later confirmed in an editorial release

that 2007 VN84 was actually the spacecraft.[59]

Timeline of major events and discoveries[edit]

2004

2 March – ESA's Rosetta mission was successfully launched at 07:17 UTC (04:17 local time) from

Kourou, French Guiana. The upper stage and payload were successfully injected into an eccentric coast

orbit of 200 km × 4,000 km (120 mi × 2,490 mi). At 09:14 UTC the upper stage engine fired to bring the

spacecraft to escape velocity, leaving Earth and entering heliocentric orbit. Rosetta was released 18

minutes later. The ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, established contact with the probe shortly after that.[60]

10 May – The first and most important deep space manoeuvre was successfully executed to adjust the

course of the space craft, with a reported inaccuracy of 0.05%.

2005

4 March – Rosetta executed its first planned close swing-by (gravity assist passage) of Earth. The Moon

and the Earth's magnetic field were used to test and calibrate the instruments on board of the spacecraft.

The minimum altitude above the Earth's surface was 1,954.7 km (1,214.6 mi) at 22:09 UTC and images

of the space probe passing by were captured by amateur astronomers.[61]

4 July – Imaging instruments on board observed the collision between the comet Tempel 1 and the

impactor of the Deep Impact mission.[62]

2007

25 February – Mars swing-by. Philae 's ROMAP (Rosetta Lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor)

instrument measures the complex Martian magnetic environment,[63] while Rosetta 's OSIRIS (Optical,

Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) took various images of the planet using different

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photographic filters.[17] While in Mars' shadow most of the instruments were turned off and the Philae

lander was autonomously running on batteries. During this operation the ÇIVA instrument on the lander

took pictures of Mars.[28] Among others, both actions were meant to test the spacecraft's instruments.

The spacecraft used the gravity of Mars to change course towards its second Earth flyby in

November.[64]

8 November – Misidentification of Rosetta spacecraft as an asteroid (see Misidentification).

13 November – Rosetta performed its second Earth swing-by at a minimum altitude of 5,295 km

(3,290 mi) at 20:57 UTC, travelling 45,000 km/h (28,000 mph).[65]

2008

5 September – Flyby of asteroid 2867 Šteins. The spacecraft passed the main-belt asteroid at a distance

of 800 km (500 mi) and the relatively slow speed of 8.6 km/s (19,000 mph; 31,000 km/h).[66]

2009

13 November – Third and final swing-by of Earth. Rosetta made its closest approach at 2,481 km

(1,542 mi) altitude over 109°E and 8°S – just off the coast of the Indonesian island of Java, at 07:45

UTC. The spacecraft was travelling at 48,024 km/h (29,841 mph).[67][68]

Hubble view of P/2010 A2

2010

16 March – Observation of the dust tail of asteroid P/2010 A2. Together with observations by Hubble

Space Telescope it could be confirmed that P/2010 A2 is not a comet but an asteroid and that the tail

most likely consists of particles from an impact by a smaller asteroid.[69]

10 July – Flew by and photographed the asteroid 21 Lutetia.[70]

2011

8 June – The spacecraft was transferred into a spin stabilised mode and all electronics except the on-

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board computer and the hibernation heaters were switched off.[71]

2014

20 January – At 10:00 UTC the spacecraft computer was taken out of hibernation mode and started

post-hibernation procedures. Rosetta restored communications with ESOC through NASA's Goldstone

ground station at 18:18 UTC.[72][73]

May to July – Starting on 7 May, Rosetta began orbital correction manoeuvres to bring itself into orbit

around 67P/C-G. At the time of the first deceleration burn Rosetta was approximately 2,000,000 km

(1,200,000 mi) away from 67P/C-G and had a relative velocity of +775 m/s (2,540 ft/s); by the end of

the last burn, which occurred on 23 July, the distance had been reduced to just over 4,000 km (2,500 mi)

with a relative velocity of +7.9 m/s (26 ft/s).[10][74] In total eight burns were used to align the trajectories

of Rosetta 67P/C-G with the majority of the deceleration occurring during three burns: Delta-v's of

291 m/s (950 ft/s) on 21 May, 271 m/s (890 ft/s) on 4 June, and 91 m/s (300 ft/s) on 18 June.[10]

14 July – The OSIRIS on-board imaging system returned images of Comet 67P/C-G which confirm the

irregular structure of the comet, and suggest that it may be a contact binary, though other formation

scenarios exist.[75][76]

6 August – Rosetta arrives at 67P/C-G, approaching to 100 km (62 mi) and carrying out a thruster burn

that reduces its relative velocity to 1 m/s (3.3 ft/s).[77][78][79]

Future milestones

August 2014 – Comet mapping and characterisation, to determine a stable orbit and viable landing

location for Philae.

November 2014 – Philae lands on the surface of 67P/G-C.

November 2014 to December 2015 – Rosetta escorts the comet around the Sun.

December 2015 – End of mission.

See also[edit]

Deep Impact (spacecraft)

Giotto (spacecraft)

Stardust (spacecraft)

References[edit]

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Rosetta image gallery

Rosetta mission profile at NASA.gov

Rosetta 's orbital journey at YouTube.com

67/P by Rosetta (ESA)

ESA – Postcards from Rosetta

ESA – Closer and closer

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