Rosetta
The Rosetta mission is a historic space mission bythe European Space Agency (ESA), designed to study the origin and evolution of comets. Originally, the mission was supposed to encounter Comet 46P/Wirtanen, but after the initial launch in January 2003 was postponed, a new target was selected: Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Rosetta made history by becoming the first spacecraft to enter orbit around a comet and deploy a lander (Philae) onto it.
The Role of the IAS
The Institute of Space Astrophysics (IAS) played a major role in the Rosetta mission:
On the Philae lander
Manager of Panoramic Imaging and Infrared Microscopy Systems (CIVA experiment);
CIVA (Comet Infrared and Visible Analyzer) captured the first in-situ images of a comet nucleus;
On the Rosetta orbiter
Participation in the COSIMA (COmetary Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer) mass spectrometer;
Contribution to the VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) spectral imager.
3D model of the nucleus of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta's new target. (Based on HST images, NASA/ESA/P. Lamy).
Status
Archived
Partners (academic / industrial)
Funding Sources
Key Dates (tentative)
January 2003: Postponement of the initial launch (original target: Comet 46P/Wirtanen);
February 2004: Launch of the Rosetta spacecraft from Kourou (French Guiana);
2005–2014: Interplanetary journey (gravity assists around Earth and Mars);
August 2014: Encounter with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko;
November 2014: Philae lands on the comet's nucleus (the first landing on a comet);
2014–2015: Study of the comet from its reawakening through perihelion (August 2015);
September 2016: End of the mission (Rosetta's controlled landing on the comet).
Key Steps
2004–2014: The Journey
Flybys of Earth (2005, 2007, 2009) and Mars (2007) for gravitational assists;
Overview of the asteroids Šteins (2008) and Lutétia (2010);
The probe went into hibernation between 2011 and 2014 to conserve energy.
2014: Arrival at the Destination
August 2014: Rosetta enters orbit around 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko;
November 2014: Philae lands on the comet (landing site: Agilkia);
First in-situ images of the comet's nucleus (thanks to CIVA, developed by the IAS).
2015: Peak Activity
August 2015: The comet passed through perihelion (the point closest to the Sun);
Study of the gas and dust jets emitted by the comet;
Analysis of data from the COSIMA and VIRTIS instruments.
2016: The End of the Mission
September 2016: Rosetta concludes its mission by landing on the comet to conduct close-up observations.
Space Instruments
Philae (lander), CIVA, COSIMA, VIRTIS
Contacts
Scientific Advisors
- Jean-Pierre Bibring, Professor at Paris-Saclay University, Solar System and Planetary Systems Physics Group
- Yves Langevin, Solar System and Planetary Systems Physics Team
Further Reading
Official website of the Rosetta mission (ESA): http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/
Rosetta: Successfully Wakes Up After 31 Months of Hibernation
Successful wake-up for the CIVA cameras on ROSETTA’s Philae lander
First image of Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken by the CIVA camera on Rosetta's Philae lander
New selfie from Rosetta, with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko 16 km away
COSIMA, a Rosetta instrument, sheds light on the composition of Comet 67P