The ESA Rosetta spacecraft launched on March 2nd, 2004.
After a journey of over 6 billion km, Rosetta has finally arrived today at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Along its journey, Rosetta completed fly-bys of Mars in 2007, asteroid 2867 Steins in 2008, and asteroid 21 Lutetia in 2010.
This is the first spacecraft to ever rendezvous with a comet.
In November 2014, Rosetta will deploy the Philae lander which will land on the surface of the comet.
Rosetta's mission will last for 17 months until December 2015.
Wow, the comet is just outside Mars Orbit and this mission still took 10 years! Amazing how they coordinate all of this.
That kind of surprised me as well. I would love to see the math involved for figuring that out, especially with the gravity assistance used from Earth and Mars.
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That kind of surprised me as well. I would love to see the math involved for figuring that out, especially with the gravity assistance used from Earth and Mars.
I picture the equations as filling a room worth of white boards all covered in indescipherable squiggles. The math is totally over my head but I can still admire it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
That kind of surprised me as well. I would love to see the math involved for figuring that out, especially with the gravity assistance used from Earth and Mars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duruss
I picture the equations as filling a room worth of white boards all covered in indescipherable squiggles. The math is totally over my head but I can still admire it.
F=ma
F=G(m1*m2)
r^2
Newton says "You're welcome".
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Why end the mission so soon? Based on the video it looks like it takes a trip on the comet for only about 1/2 of an orbit. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the mission last at least a full orbit?
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What I imagine makes it hard is the time lines involved, but that is assuming that the entire operation was precalculated and that no "live" alteration can or would be done after launch. And I am certain that is not the case.
I also liked imagining it all done by hand with no computer assistance, which also is not the case. Or in other words I was romantizing the science and wanting to be in awe of the volume.
This makes me wonder how long until they try to capture a comet or asteroid by deceleration and bring it back to earth. It would be an incredible feat.
Over 10 years after launch, ESA mission Rosetta arrives TODAY at comet 67P/C-G
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