Rosetta and Philae, comet orbiter/lander robotic spacecraft, European Space Agency

[Airicist]

European Space Agency (https://pr.ai/showthread.php?5937)

esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta)

rosetta.esa.int (http://rosetta.esa.int)

dlr.de/en/rosetta

Rosetta blog - blogs.esa.int/rosetta (http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta)

facebook.com/RosettaMission (https://www.facebook.com/RosettaMission)

twitter.com/ESA_Rosetta (https://twitter.com/ESA_Rosetta)

twitter.com/Philae2014 (https://twitter.com/Philae2014)

Rosetta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)) on Wikipedia

Philae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philae_%28spacecraft%29) on Wikipedia


Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft built and launched by the European Space Agency to perform a detailed study of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It is part of the ESA Horizon 2000 cornerstone missions and is the first mission designed to both orbit and land on a comet.

"Ambition (https://pr.ai/showthread.php?8527)", scy-fi short film, Tomek Baginski, 2014, Poland

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/P8xINIJe_rk

Rosetta's view of Lutetia, July 2010

Published on Jun 13, 2012


This movie shows a sequence of images taken as ESA's Rosetta spacecraft flew past the main-belt asteroid (21) Lutetia, during the spacecraft's 10-year journey towards comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The flyby took place on 10 July 2010, when Rosetta flew past the asteroid at a distance of 3168.2 km and at a relative speed of 15 km/s. The first image shown in the sequence was taken nine and a half hours before closest approach, from a distance of 500 000 km to Lutetia; the last image was taken six minutes after closest approach, at 6300 km from the asteroid.

The OSIRIS camera on board Rosetta has surveyed the part of Lutetia that was visible during the flyby - about half of its entire surface, mostly coinciding with the asteroid's northern hemisphere. These unique, close-up images have allowed scientists to study the asteroid's surface morphology, composition and other properties in unprecedented detail.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/iEQuE5N3rwQ

Rosetta's twelve-year journey in space

Published on Oct 14, 2013


This animation tracks Rosetta's journey through the Solar System, using gravity slingshots from Earth and Mars to reach its final destination: Comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko. Rosetta made three flybys of Earth, on 4 March 2005, 13 November 2007 and 13 November 2009, and one of Mars, on 25 February 2007. Rosetta has also visited two asteroids, taking extensive close-up images of 2867 Steins on 5 September 2008 and 21 Lutetia on 10 July 2010. Once the spacecraft is woken up from deep space hibernation on 20 January 2014, it will head for rendezvous with the comet in May. In November the Philae probe will be deployed to the comet surface. Rosetta will follow the comet to its closest distance to the Sun on 13 August 2015 and as it moves back towards the outer Solar System. The nominal mission end is December 2015.
Credits: ESA

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/siu2sxQ4YWI

Rosetta with the comet lander 'Philae' / Mission Rosetta mit Kometenlander "Philae"

Published on Nov 26, 2013


The comet lander 'Philae' has been flying through space since 2 March 2004, and is awaiting its arrival at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in sleep mode. It will be landing on unknown territory: the exact landing site will only be decided upon by the scientists once the Rosetta spacecraft arrives at the comet, and with the help of the first camera images

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/-KX5NxE4tUY

How ESA's ROSETTA Comet Probe Wakes Up in Deep Space

Published on Dec 11, 2013


This computer animation shows how the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft wakes up from deep space hibernation on 20 January 2014. The spacecraft is headed for a 2014 rendezvous with the Comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/cHZg1y2g4Hs

Wake up!

Published on Jan 7, 2014


At 10:00 UTC on 20 January 2014, ESA's comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft will wake up from 31 months in deep space hibernation.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/fNBUep7mPdI

Rosetta's orbit around the comet

Published on Jan 10, 2014


After a ten year journey through space, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft will reach comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August 2014. After catching up with the comet Rosetta will slightly overtake and enter orbit from the 'front' of the comet as both the spacecraft and 67P/CG move along their orbits around the Sun. Rosetta will carry out a complex series of manoeuvres to reduce the separation between the spacecraft and comet from around 100 km to 25-30 km. From this close orbit, detailed mapping will allow scientists to determine the landing site for the mission's Philae lander. Immediately prior to the deployment of Philae in November, Rosetta will come to within just 2.5 km of the comet's nucleus.
This animation is not to scale; Rosetta's solar arrays span 32 m, and the comet is approximately 4 km wide.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/5b7u6stKgfs

CHASING A COMET - The Rosetta Mission

Published on Jan 15, 2014


"It's the first time we do anything like that. The environment is totally unknown." (Andrea Accomazzo, Spacecraft Operations Manager)

Among the most fascinating projects in the exploration of the Universe is the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission, launched in 2004 to investigate the comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko. For the first time, a spacecraft will follow a comet as it approaches the Sun and land on its nucleus.

This highlight of the mission will take place in November 2014, when the small, autonomous daughter craft, Philae, lands on the comet itself. Philae was designed and built by an international consortium led by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum f?r Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). DLR also runs the lander control centre which is preparing for and overseeing the difficult task of landing on the comet, a feat never before accomplished.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/YJkuY4hDNns

Rosetta orbiting the comet

Published on Jan 20, 2014


Animation showing Rosetta orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and scanning its surface to make scientific measurements. The colours of the beams and their shape on the surface represent two different instruments imaging and analysing the comet.

The Rosetta orbiter has a total of 11 instruments to study the characteristics and environment of the comet. Rosetta will take images of the comet at a variety of different wavelengths, will make measurements of its gravity, mass, density, internal structure, shape, and rotation, and will assess the properties its gaseous, dust-laden atmosphere, or coma. It will also probe the surrounding plasma environment and analyse how it interacts with the solar wind.

Rosetta also carries a small lander, Philae, which will descend to the surface of the comet and make in situ measurements using its suite of 10 instruments.

The animation is not to scale; comet 67P/CG is approximately 4 km wide and Rosetta is 32 m across including its solar arrays. It will conduct its scientific investigations at a range of altitudes.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/ppk8dTMNazY

Rosetta 'phones in'

Published on Jan 21, 2014


It is 19:18 CET on 20 January 2014. The palpable tension both in the control centre and the media briefing room at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt turned into joy and excitement as the long-awaited spike made its appearance on the spectrum analyser on screen -- the Rosetta spacecraft had just 'phoned in'. It is awake and ready to continue its mission to comet 67P.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/AmdZRw-0AZI

Rosetta wake-up media briefing at ESOC - Part 1

Published on Jan 20, 2014


Replay of Part 1 of the Rosetta wake-up media briefing at the ESA Operations Centre ESOC, in Darmstadt, Germany, on 20 January 2014.

Highlights include a welcome address from ESA's Thomas Reiter, Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations, reports from inside ESA's Main Control Room and presentations from Alvaro Gimenez, ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration and Johann-Dietrich W?rner, Chair of the German Aerospace Centre and Chair of ESA Council.

Rosetta was launched in 2004 and has since travelled around the Sun five times, picking up energy from Earth and Mars to line it up with its final destination: comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko. For the coldest, loneliest leg of the mission, as Rosetta travelled out towards the orbit of Jupiter, the spacecraft was put into deep-space hibernation.

In 2014, Rosetta will complete its cruise towards the comet, rendezvousing with it in August, before putting its Philae lander onto the comet's surface in November, as it begins its journey closer to the Sun.

The spacecraft's internal alarm clock is set for 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on 20 January. Once it has warmed itself up, it should re-establish communication with Earth several hours later.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/kxQbt7xTnE8

Rosetta wake-up media briefing at ESOC - Part 2

Published on Jan 20, 2014


Replay of Part 2 of the Rosetta wake-up media briefing at the ESA Operations Centre ESOC, in Darmstadt, Germany, on 20 January 2014.

Covering Rosetta mission highlights, science achievements and operational challenges -- plus: updates from Main Control Room

Rosetta was launched in 2004 and has since travelled around the Sun five times, picking up energy from Earth and Mars to line it up with its final destination: comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko. For the coldest, loneliest leg of the mission, as Rosetta travelled out towards the orbit of Jupiter, the spacecraft was put into deep-space hibernation.

In 2014, Rosetta will complete its cruise towards the comet, rendezvousing with it in August, before putting its Philae lander onto the comet's surface in November, as it begins its journey closer to the Sun.

The spacecraft's internal alarm clock is set for 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on 20 January. Once it has warmed itself up, it should re-establish communication with Earth several hours later.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/Wp4JAGbPMT8

Rosetta wakes up from deep space hibernation

Published on Jan 20, 2014


Replay of Part 3 of the Rosetta wake-up media briefing at the ESA Operations Centre ESOC, in Darmstadt, Germany, on 20 January 2014.

Waiting for the signal from Rosetta. View inside the Mission Control Room at ESOC as the team waits for a first signal that Rosetta has successfully come out of deep space hibernation.

Rosetta was launched in 2004 and has since travelled around the Sun five times, picking up energy from Earth and Mars to line it up with its final destination: comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko. For the coldest, loneliest leg of the mission, as Rosetta travelled out towards the orbit of Jupiter, the spacecraft was put into deep-space hibernation.

In 2014, Rosetta will complete its cruise towards the comet, rendezvousing with it in August, before putting its Philae lander onto the comet's surface in November, as it begins its journey closer to the Sun.

The spacecraft's internal alarm clock is set for 10:00 GMT (11:00 CET) on 20 January. Once it has warmed itself up, it should re-establish communication with Earth several hours later.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/DEAgzGqGVFM

Rosetta: When can we see the comet?

Published on Mar 27, 2014


Visualisation of how comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will appear in Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow angle camera between May and August 2014. During this time, the 4 kilometre-wide comet will grow in size in Rosetta's field of view from an apparent diameter of less than 1 camera pixel to well over 1000 pixels -- equivalent to a resolution of better than a few metres per pixel -- allowing the large surface features to be resolved.

The comet featured in this animation is an artist's impression. It is shown to scale, but the shape and surface details are only representative. In addition, the real comet will be rotating during Rosetta's approach. The planets are not to scale.

Credits: ESA-C. Carreau

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/yCp9BldyZQ4

Rosetta puts on the brakes

Published on May 16, 2014


Rosetta is about to put on the brakes to ensure that it is on target for comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

This video explains the crucial orbit correction manoeuvres that are required to slow down Rosetta's speed, relative to the comet, from 750 metres per second to just one metre per second between 21 May and 5 August. By then, nine thruster burns (including one test burn in early May) will have reduced the distance between them from one million kms to just under 200 kms.

We also see the first images of the comet from the spacecraft's OSIRIS camera (Optical, Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System), taken between 24 March and 4 May 2014. As the spacecraft gets closer to the comet, further images will improve the orbital corrections and provide more details about the comet's shape, size and rotation.

MIRO, built by an international team for the European Space Agency, will start taking measurements from late May onwards and will measure gases released from the comet as it approaches the Sun.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/a1xUrySwUwo

Main Rosetta burn

Published on 13 Jun, 2014


Rosetta is now closing its target: comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko and key manoeuvres have been done recently to slow down the spacecraft with the objective to have Rosetta orbiting the comet early August. Rosetta has successfully completed the first of three main thruster burns. Two further main burns in June (4 and 18), and six smaller burns between now and August, are ensuring that the spacecraft is on target for comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The first burn took place 500 million kilometres away on 21 May, used 218 kilogrammes of fuel and lasted 7 hours and 16 minutes -- one of the longest thruster burns in ESA's history. This video shows members of the mission team monitoring the burn in real time at the Rosetta control room at the European Space Operations Centre at Darmstadt in Germany. It also includes the role of the spacecraft's ALICE instrument and how the Rosetta Plasma Consortium, a set of five instruments, is preparing for the release of the Philae lander onto the comet's surface.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/LdT9Bq2TMmE

How big is Rosetta compared with the comet?

Published on Jul 15, 2014


This short animation explains the relative sizes of the Rosetta spacecraft and comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko.

Rosetta is 32 m from tip to tip of the solar wings. Assuming the comet measures about 4 km across, that's 125 times the width of Rosetta.

Unlike typical artist's impressions, this image is scaled to convey the vast difference in size between Rosetta and the comet, even when the spacecraft is in a close 10 km orbit, as depicted here.

Rosetta arrives at the comet at an altitude of 100 km in the first week of August, and will move progressively closer over the following two months, with the intention to orbit at an altitude of just 10 km, depending on the comet's activity. For Philae's deployment in November, Rosetta will come to within a few kilometres of the surface.

The comet depicted in this animation is an artist's impression.

#Rosettaarewethereyet

Credits: ESA

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/mtumfWiXW9U

Rosetta spacecraft enters orbit around comet

Published on Aug 4, 2014


With comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko two days away, European Space Agency researchers must tackle unprecedented challenges for the mission to succeed

Full story: "Comet-mapping Rosetta spacecraft prepares for duty (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25995-comet-mapping-rosetta-spacecraft-prepares-for-duty)"

by Jacob Aron
August 4, 2014

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/uOfXk1PLmfM

Rosetta arrival highlights

Published on Aug 7, 2014


Highlights from ESA's mission control centre during Rosetta's arrival at comet 67P/C-G on 6 August 2014. Includes live updates from the Rosetta flight control team, confirmation of orbit entry and presentation of latest images and science results.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/k3qFYsDVZ5s

ESA Euronews: Comet Hunters: Rosetta's race to map 67P

Published on Aug 11, 2014


The Rosetta mission is now on a race against time to prepare maps and collect data before the Philae lander is due to be sent down to the surface of comet 67P in November. In this edition of Euronews Space, the 'Comet Hunters' show us how to orbit a comet, how Rosetta 'sees' its target, and what the mission means to the world of science, and to this team in particular.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/bAjrfCW46Tk

Rosetta’s imaging and spectroscopy instruments

Published on Sep 5, 2014


Animation highlighting the imaging and spectroscopy instruments on ESA's Rosetta spacecraft. The animation focuses on the wavelengths and the fields of view of the Alice, MIRO, OSIRIS and VIRTIS instruments.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/KiYLqX20I74

Rosetta landing site choices

Published on Sep 12, 2014


On 15 September the Rosetta mission will announce the primary and back up landing sites for comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

This video reviews the five shortlisted landing sites, why they were selected and how the comet’s unusual ‘duck’ shape affected the choice.

The Rosetta orbiter has been studying the comet since May and choosing the right place to land is crucial in order to examine the comet further. The orbiter’s data – together with that from the Philae lander – will provide unprecedented insights into our solar system.

The film also covers the preparation by scientists, members of the mission control team at the European Space Operations Centre at Darmstadt, in Germany, and the challenges ahead.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/szKZ77MbF9Q

Philae’s descent and science on the surface

Published on Sep 12, 2014


Annotated version of the Philae’s mission at comet 67P animation.

The animation begins with the deployment of Philae from Rosetta at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in November 2014. It will take several hours for it to reach the surface. Because of the comet’s extremely low gravity, landing gear will absorb the small forces of landing while ice screws in the probe’s feet and a harpoon system will lock the probe to the surface. At the same time a thruster on top of the lander will push it down to counteract the impulse of the harpoon imparted in the opposite direction.

Once it is anchored to the comet, the lander will begin its primary science mission, based on its 64-hour initial battery lifetime. The animation shows a number of the science instruments in action on the surface.

Rosetta’s Philae lander is provided by a consortium led by DLR, MPS, CNES and ASI.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/wGjwHhNH49E

Rosetta mission status

Published on Sep 23, 2014


The Rosetta mission is ongoing at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The landing site for Philae has been chosen. The adventure continues! But already Rosetta is providing the scientific community more than any previous comet mission.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/urXuyEpkiTw

Rosetta - A Lesson on Comets

Published on Oct 10, 2014


On October 9, as part of the Von Karman Lecture Series at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Manager of the US Rosetta Project, Art Chmielewski discussed comets and how they have inspired awe and wonder since the dawn of history. In November, the Rosetta spacecraft will attempt to become the first spacecraft to soft-land a robot on a comet – named 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The ten year Rosetta mission seeks to learn more about the origins of our universe by studying the comet.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/4a3eY5siRRk

Rosetta: close orbits to lander deployment

Published on Oct 15, 2014


Animation showing Rosetta’s orbit in the lead up to, during and after lander separation.

The animation begins on 1 October 2014, when Rosetta is orbiting about 19 km from Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (all distances refer to the comet’s centre). The animation shows the transition to the close 10 km orbit by mid-October, and then the steps taken to move onto the pre-separation trajectory.

On the day of landing, 12 November, Rosetta makes a further manoeuvre 2–3 hours before separation to move to 22.5 km from the comet centre to deploy the lander, Philae. While Philae descends to the surface over a period of seven hours, Rosetta makes another manoeuvre to maintain visibility with the lander. A series of 'relay phase' manoeuvres then move Rosetta out to a distance of about 50 km, before moving first to a 30 km orbit and later to an orbit at about 20 km by early December.

The speed of the animation slows during the separation and lander phase to better highlight these events. The comet shape and rate of rotation is real – the comet rotates with a period of about 12.4 hours.

Credits: ESA



https://youtu.be/D5iyZTXiX78

ScienceCasts: How to Land on a Comet

Published on Nov 3, 2014


The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft is about to attempt something "ridiculously difficult" - landing a probe on the surface of a speeding comet.

[Airicist]

https://vimeo.com/109795875

Landing on a Comet - The Rosetta Mission
October 23, 2014


After a 10-year journey of some seven billion kilometres, the Rosetta mission is now heading towards its next major milestone – setting the lander Philae on a comet.

On 12 November 2014, a lander is scheduled to touch down on a comet for the first time in the history of spaceflight. “We don’t know exactly what awaits us there,” says lander Project Manager Stephan Ulamec from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR).

Landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will enable scientists to carry out experiments in situ for the first time. Comets are considered to be witnesses to the birth of the Solar System. Will the surface of the comet be in a primordial state? Do comets show evidence of prebiotic molecules and water, and did they therefore play a role in the origin of life on Earth? The Rosetta mission is expected to help answer such questions.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/J7Lifb2R5As

Scientists: Rosetta Comet Smells Terrible

Published on Nov 4, 2014


The Rosetta comet mission landing is drawing closer, and with the landing of Europe's Philae robot on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comes another scientific conclusion: the comet smells disgusting. The cloud around the icy comet contains a pungent chemical mix of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, methanol, carbon disulfide and formaldehyde, which amounts to a terrible, terrible odor. What is it exactly? And what other odors does space have in store? Kim Horcher, Tim Frisch, and Brandon Winfrey (Insomniac Games, Sunset TV Host) discuss!

Read more:
"European Scientists Conclude That Distant Comet Smells Terrible (https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/24/358364942/european-scientists-conclude-that-distant-comet-smells-terrible)"

by Geoff Brumfiel
October 24, 2014

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/AvkPFXdpOQQ

Preparing for Comet Landing

Published on Nov 5, 2014


After a ten-year journey, Rosetta and Philae had finally reached their destination, Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta spent many weeks studying the comet, sending lots of information back to Earth. But where was Philae going to land? Eventually the scientists on Earth found the best place on the comet for Philae to land. Soon it was time to make the final preparations for Philae's great adventure. Both spacecraft couldn't wait any longer. The whole world would be watching as Rosetta and Philae prepared for their biggest challenge yet...

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/t49qChd6oVw

Rosetta's science

Published on Nov 6, 2014


Rosetta is a science mission and it is using 21 onboard instruments (11 on the orbiter, 10 on the lander) to explore two key scientific questions: did water on Earth come from comets and did comets help kick start life on Earth?

Since Rosetta came out of hibernation in January, we now know comet 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko’s mass (around 10 billion tonnes), shape (rubber duck) and rotation (every 12 hours and 24 minutes). Its cameras have shown gas and dust streaming away from the comet, locating areas of activity and imaging them for the first time. The orbiter has also captured dust grains and detected water and gases in the comet’s atmosphere or coma

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/IiEjQSNUiG4

Rosetta's journey

Published on Nov 6, 2014


A summary of Rosetta’s journey – from its launch on 2 March 2004 - to the planned landing on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014. The journey has included four gravitational assists from Mars and the Earth, flybys with asteroids Steins and Lutetia, and the spacecraft's temporary hibernation and successful wake up on 20 January 2014.

In May Rosetta put on the brakes and performed rendezvous manoeuvres for several months. During this period, images from the onboard cameras revealed the comet’s unusual ‘space duck’ shape.

Rosetta arrived at its destination on 6 August and became the first spacecraft to orbit a comet. The primary landing site was announced in September and Rosetta is now on schedule to release its Philae lander onto the comet’s surface in November.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/mggUVLFPkQg

Rosetta: landing on a comet

Published on Nov 7, 2014


Rosetta will release its Philae lander when approximately 22 kilometres from the centre of the comet. A signal confirming the separation will arrive at ground stations on Earth 28 minutes and 20 seconds later while the lander’s descent to the surface will take seven hours. On the way down, Philae will take a series of images and onboard instruments will sample the dust, gas and plasma close to the comet’s surface and measure any magnetic field.

Philae’s three lander legs will absorb the momentum of impact and use it to drive an ice screw in each foot into the surface. At the same time two harpoons will fire to lock the probe onto the surface and a small thruster on top will counteract the impulse. Once anchored to the nucleus, Philae will begin its primary science mission, based on its initial battery lifetime of 64 hours.

The SESAME experiment - which contains three instruments - includes one called CASSE, located in the lander’s feet. Harald KRUEGER, Principal Investigator of Rosetta’s SESAME experiment, explains how CASSE will use acoustic waves to determine properties of the comet’s soil.

Within hours of landing, we also hope to see the first ever images of a comet from its surface.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/RzNT1kJ8_ho

How Rosetta deploys Philae

Published on Nov 7, 2014


Rosetta’s deployment of Philae with Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in the background.

The animation begins with Philae still on Rosetta, which will come to within about 22.5 km of the centre of the nucleus to release the lander on 12 November 2014. The animation shows only the first moments after separation; it will take about seven hours for Philae to reach the surface.

Philae is provided by a consortium led by DLR, MPS, CNES and ASI.

Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/crbnOY8WeB8

Rosetta orbiting around the comet

Published on Nov 10, 2014


Rosetta orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and scanning its surface to make scientific measurements. The colours of the beams and their shape on the surface represent two different instruments imaging and analysing the comet.

The Rosetta orbiter has a total of 11 instruments to study the characteristics and environment of the comet. Rosetta is taking images of the comet at a variety of different wavelengths, measuring its gravity, mass, density, internal structure, shape and rotation, and assessing the properties of its gaseous, dust-laden atmosphere, or coma. It is also probing the surrounding plasma environment and analysing how it interacts with the solar wind.

Rosetta also carries a small lander, Philae, which will descend to the surface of the comet and make in situ measurements using its suite of 10 instruments.

The animation is not to scale; the comet is about 4.1 km wide and Rosetta is 32 m across including its solar wings, and it conducts scientific investigations at a range of altitudes. The comet shape is based on a true comet shape model.

Credits: ESA

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/hOg0VDv4tpQ

Philae lander instruments (Animation)

Published on Nov 11, 2014


Philae – a high-tech cube with an edge length of roughly one metre – is the name of the landing craft in the Rosetta Mission. Its main purpose is to conduct on the ground analysis of the comet material, probably the most primeval and oldest material found anywhere in the Solar System. The analysis is designed to focus in particular on element and isotope distribution, organic molecules, minerals and ice. The main purpose of analysing the structure and properties of the comet core is to determine the surface properties, the physical characteristics of the comet core and the structure of its layers, alongside the global internal structure. Furthermore, observations will zero in on and examine the repercussions of temporal variations, prompted by the day/night cycle and the emergence of the comet’s tail as it approaches the Sun.
"Philae lander instruments (https://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10724/1281_read-9509)"

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/LK1TGWh-tSk

The Rosetta Mission Asks – How Do You Land On A Comet?

Published on Nov 11, 2014


Right now the Rosetta spacecraft is in the orbit of the comet getting its lander ready for this historic event. Watch and learn how easy or how hard it is to land on a comet because nobody has done it before.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/FJrUnzLsmZk


https://youtu.be/W8bVOGN9jSg


https://youtu.be/PUpSVxoCcik

"Arrival", "Philae's journey" and "Rosetta's waltz" by Vangelis

Published on Nov 12, 2014


The first of a trio of music videos released by ESA to celebrate the first ever attempted soft landing on a comet by ESA's Rosetta mission.

Vangelis, the world-renowned musician, has composed this piece of music specially for ESA and inspired by the Rosetta mission. Vangelis's music is often linked to themes of science, history and exploration, and he is best known for his Academy Award–winning score for the film Chariots of Fire, composing scores for the films Antarctica, Blade Runner, 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Alexander, and the use of his music in the documentary series Cosmos, by Carl Sagan.

Vangelis said: "Mythology, science and space exploration are subjects that have fascinated me since my early childhood. And they were always connected somehow with the music I write."

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/PzPvFDeWhko

Philae Lands On Comet! - Mission Control Celebrates

Published on Nov 12, 2014


The European Space Agency's Rosetta mission's lander successfully landed on the surface of comet 67P/C-G on Nov. 11, 2014. ESA's mission control erupts in celebration on landing confirmation. Full Story:

"European Spacecraft Lands on Comet in Historic Space Feat (https://www.space.com/27740-rosetta-comet-landing-success.html)"

by Miriam Kramer
November 12, 2014

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/Xer1uL2M9S8

Philae touchdown: lander status and first descent image

Published on Nov 13, 2014


Highlights from coverage of ESA's Rosetta mission soft-landing its Philae probe on a comet, the first time in history that such an extraordinary feat has been achieved. Including the presentation of the first ROLIS image sent back by Philae as the lander descended to the surface of the comet.

After a tense wait during the seven-hour descent to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the signal confirming the successful touchdown arrived on Earth at 16:03 GMT (17:03 CET).

[Airicist]

https://vimeo.com/112959499

"Rosetta" -- A Kerbal Space Program Film
November 26, 2014


"... ...It spent 10 years chase down the comet", yes, this is the Rosetta Mission. Nobody had ever done something like this before, rendezvous with a comet, and soft land on it.

I spent a week recreating and recording the mission. It's actually harder than I think, and it took more time than I expected. But hey, it's here.

This is my first published video about KSP. It's inspired by Rosetta Mission, operated by European Space Agency.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/ZCwod48BD9g

What's Next For Philae and the Comet Landing Mission?

Published on Nov 19, 2014


The European Space Agency made history by landing the Philae robotic spacecraft on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on November 12th. The lander has been able to collect organic materials, and seems able to complete its mission of gathering and transmitting data about the comet's composition, but it's been hampered by its power source and its ability to gather solar energy. What's next for the mission? Kim Horcher, Marisha Ray ((Persona Q, Pen & Paper & Lazer Guns), and Bryan Forrest (Video Game High School, Man at Arms) discuss!

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/erqvGEEhavU

Rosetta wrap-up

Published on Nov 21, 2014


Rosetta made history by delivering the Philae lander to the surface of a comet. This film covers the exciting events at the Rosetta mission control room at the European Space Operations Centre at Darmstadt, in Germany, from the moment of touchdown on 12 November to Philae’s hibernation.

It shows the celebrations and explains the race against time to ensure that the lander’s science experiments were completed before its batteries died. It also covers the extraordinary three touchdowns, as imaged by the OSIRIS camera on the Rosetta orbiter, the discovery of organics and Philae’s hibernation.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/8-8Fv5EEXG0

ESA Euronews: Philae's adventure

Published on Nov 21, 2014


The Philae lander may be in hibernation mode on the surface of a comet, but it's still very much alive in the hearts of the Comet Hunters, the team who helped Rosetta become the most famous space mission since the Moon landings. In this special edition of Euronews Space we have an extended episode of our Comet Hunters series, filmed during and after the comet landing at ESA's base in Darmstadt and at the DLR's Philae control room in Koln.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/HUFZ3RdA3s4

Lecture about comets (In Russian)

Streamed live on Nov 23, 2014


Lecturer - Researcher at the Department of Physics asteroids and comets Ivan Slyusarev, Kharkiv, INDI, November 23, 2014, Ukraine

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/mBpGUPCXQhk

Rosetta's closest encounter

Published on Feb 17, 2015


On 14 February 2015, Rosetta made its closest encounter with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasemenko at just 6 km from the surface. The spacecraft is no longer orbiting the comet, it is now performing a series of flybys to continue its science.

This video explains the next stage of the Rosetta mission, the science that will be done during 2015 by the orbiter’s flybys, and assesses the possibility of the Philae lander’s reactivation from hibernation.

So far Rosetta has only mapped about seventy percent of the surface because the comet’s orbit and rotation kept certain areas in darkness. This year new regions will come into view alongside new activity on the surface.

When the comet is at the peak of its activity in the summer, Rosetta’s instruments will be there to observe, measure and record a spectacular event.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/_GCscfE1h0k

ESA Euronews: Rosetta continues to surprise

Published on Mar 27, 2015


The comet-chasing mission of ESA spacecraft Rosetta and its robotic lander Philae has grabbed attention from around the world with its suspenseful adventures. The science behind the mission is just as fascinating, and could help unlock secrets on how our solar system formed billions of years ago.

In 2004, Rosetta the spacecraft and Philae the robot set out on a mission to catch a distant comet called 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

What they are now doing over a decade later is re-writing, in surprising new ways, our understanding of how the solar system formed.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/GLlwhqu2w9Y

Rosetta lander science

Published on Jul 31, 2015


The Rosetta orbiter is continuing its science until the end of the extended Rosetta mission in September 2016. The lander’s future is less certain. This film covers some of what we’ve learnt from Philae about comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko so far.

This includes information about the comet’s surface structure from the ROsetta Lander Imaging System – or ROLIS camera – a copy of which can be found at the German Space Agency, DLR, in Berlin.

Data from all Philae’s instruments has informed the work of the other scientific teams. Rosetta scientists have analysed grains from the comet and discovered that it contains carbon rich molecules from the early formation of our solar system.

The video also contains footage from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany – where a flight replica of Philae’s COSAC instrument is maintained in a vacuum chamber to test commands. COSAC has already detected over a dozen molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen from the dust cloud kicked up from landing.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/8YIFlHqGqh4

Pieces of the Puzzle – Philae on Comet 67P

Published on Aug 12, 2015


Philae’s landing on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (#CometLanding) on 12 November 2014 was a historic moment – the first time in the history of space exploration that a spacecraft landed on a comet. Millions of people across the world followed the Rosetta mission via the Internet.
The DLR Video ‘Pieces of the Puzzle – Philae on Comet 67P’ provides an insight into the ‘roller coaster ride’ on the day of the #CometLanding: “We had to make decisions, develop concepts, alter schedules, sleep briefly and return – and then do the whole thing again and again. There was not a moment to breathe.” In the video, Koen Geurts, Philae’s Technical Manager, looks at the days immediately after the landing and the following seven months of waiting for a renewed sign of life from Philae. The ‘crazy year’ was to continue, as on 14 June 2015, the comet lander once again reported back. However, the connections thus far have been irregular and unstable. And so, all those involved in the Rosetta mission must examine the pieces of the puzzle together to decipher what is happening 266 million kilometres from Earth.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/7bwdous0ddY

Seconds Before Philae's 1st Comet Touchdown Visualized

Published on Oct 15, 2015


On Nov. 12th, 2014, the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe deployed its lander to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Seven images were taken by Philae's ROLIS instrument from 219 Feet (67 meters) to 30 Feet (9 meters) of the surface of the comet. The images have been used to create a real-time look at the descent from the lander perspective.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/bgj6ZSg4bD4

Back to the Beginning: The Rosetta Comet Rendezvous Mission - P. Weissman - 10/14/2015

Published on Oct 16, 2015


Learn more about the Rosetta Mission and Dr. Weissman's research:
"Back to the Beginning: The Rosetta Comet Rendezvous Mission (https://www.caltech.edu/news/back-beginning-rosetta-comet-rendezvous-mission-48310)"

Watson Lecture Preview

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/T6aGXAhmyzs

Rosetta Philae landing: one year

Published on Nov 11, 2015


It’s been an extraordinary year for the Rosetta comet mission since Philae landed on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014.

Continual data from the orbiter, together with information collected over several days from the lander, is providing a comprehensive picture of a remnant from our Solar System.

This film covers the most recent science news from the Rosetta mission, as well as selected scientific highlights from the last year. It includes the comet’s unusual surface terrace structure, its formation from two colliding objects producing the unusual rubber duck shape, how water is transported from inside the comet towards the surface, and the surprising detection of molecular oxygen - familiar on Earth but not on a comet.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/rJ2eqH3Bz4c

Reconstructing Philae’s flight

Published on Nov 12, 2015


Data from both the Philae lander and Rosetta orbiter experiments, as well as simulation results based on Philae’s mechanical design have been used to reconstruct the lander’s attitude and motion during its descent and touchdowns on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12 November 2014.

The new animation presented today, one year after Philae touched down on the comet, focuses on Philae’s dramatic two-hour flight from Agilkia to Abydos.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/VxC0_icfwCM

Rosetta status

Published on Jun 28, 2016


Rosetta has another three months of science to collect before its historic mission comes to an end. But the mission is not resting on its laurels. It has just broken a new record by flying an orbit 7 kms from the comet’s centre – just 5 kms from the surface – and there are more breathtaking manoeuvres to come.

This film describes the orbits that Rosetta will undertake around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the changes in the amount of gas coming off the comet, and examines the importance of finding phosphorus and glycine - an amino acid that is essential for life.

It also discusses the mission’s most recent discoveries of Xenon and Krypton, together with most of their isotopes. These noble gases were detected by the ROSINA instrument during the period when Rosetta was flying extremely close to the comet. More important science is expected to be released during the next few months.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/629IZFfBTi4

Rosetta's last act

Published on Jul 19, 2016


The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft is set to complete its mission in a controlled descent to the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenkoon on September 30, 2016. NASA contributed three instruments to Rosetta - ALICE, MIRO, and IES - plus a significant portion of the electronics package for another instrument, ROSINA.

"Rosetta finale set for 30 September (https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_finale_set_for_30_September)"

June 30, 2016

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/RnwwxZwUSCY

Rosetta’s journey around the comet

Published on Aug 5, 2016


Animation visualising Rosetta’s two-year journey around Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

The animation begins on 31 July 2014, during Rosetta’s final approach to the comet after its ten-year journey through space. The spacecraft arrived at a distance of 100 km on 6 August whereupon it gradually approached the comet and entered initial mapping orbits that were needed to select a landing site for Philae. These observations also enabled the first comet science of the mission. The manoeuvres in the lead up to, during and after Philae’s deployment on 12 November are seen, before Rosetta settled into longer-term science orbits.

In February and March 2015 the spacecraft made several flybys. One of the closest flybys triggered a ‘safe mode’ event that forced it to retreat temporarily until it was safe to gradually draw closer again. The comet’s increased activity in the lead up to and after perihelion in August 2015 meant that Rosetta remained well beyond 100 km distances for several months.

In June 2015, contact was restored with Philae again – albeit temporary, with no permanent link able to be maintained, despite a series of dedicated trajectories flown by Rosetta for several weeks.

Following perihelion, Rosetta performed a dayside far excursion some 1500 km from the comet, before re-approaching to closer orbits again, enabled by the reduction in the comet’s activity. In March–April 2016 Rosetta went on another far excursion, this time on the night side, followed by a close flyby and orbits dedicated to a range of science observations.

The animation finishes at 9 August 2016, before the details of the end of mission orbits were known. A visualisation of the trajectories leading to the final descent to the surface of the comet on 30 September will be provided once available.

The trajectory shown in this animation is created from real data, but the comet rotation is not. An arrow indicates the direction to the Sun as the camera viewpoint changes during the animation.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/UobzGZH2VnE

Rosetta: the end is in sight

Published on Sep 2, 2016


It is just over two years since Rosetta made its rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and now the end of the mission is in sight.

As the spacecraft and the comet head towards Jupiter, Rosetta is getting spectacularly close to the surface - up to three kilometres so far - allowing detailed views of the comet’s cliffs, boulders and plains, as well observing changes since the orbiter’s arrival.

A ten tonne boulder, for instance, has moved by 140 metres, most likely due to activity during perihelion, when the comet was at its closest point to the Sun.

This video provides an overview of recent events in preparation for the mission’s end on 30 September, when Rosetta will spiral down to a landing site on the head of the duck shaped comet, performing science and taking images along the way.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/rDzkVPKZALQ

Philae found by Rosetta!

Published on Sep 5, 2016


Images taken by Rosetta’s camera revealed Philae’s location on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The Philae lander descended onto Comet 67P on 12 November 2014. The images were taken by the OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on 2 September 2016, as Rosetta spacecraft came within 2.7 km of the surface.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/7ohHAjLIAq4

Goodbye from Comet 67P

Published on Sep 6, 2016


Thank you all for being a part of the journey!

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/XZghT_VgKvs

Rosetta - advancing cometary science

Published on Sep 9, 2016


Rosetta was the first mission to orbit a comet and the first mission to land on a comet. Since its arrival at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 6 August 2014, Rosetta’s data has also transformed cometary science.

This film showcases some of the Rosetta’s scientific highlights before the orbiter shuts down operations and joins Philae on the surface of the comet on 30 September. This includes findings by the OSIRIS, VIRTIS, ROSINA and ALICE instruments. The mission results so far have made scientists rethink our picture of comets as dirty snowballs due to a lack of strong evidence for ice on the comet surface. Instead the ice is buried beneath the surface, covered by a layer of dust. This dust layer means that the comet is very dark, only reflecting a few per cent of the light that falls on it.

Although the spacecraft mission will end, the data obtained by Rosetta will provide enough work to keep scientists busy for decades.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/tD4c8evE4YA

Rosetta’s final path

Published on Sep 22, 2016


Animation of Rosetta’s final trajectory in the last 10 days of its mission at Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

On 24 September 2016, Rosetta will leave a close flyover orbit and transfer into the start of a 16 x 23 km orbit that will be used to prepare and line up for the final descent. In the evening of 29 September (20:50 GMT) Rosetta will manoeuvre onto a collision course with the comet, beginning the descent from an altitude of 19 km. The spacecraft will fall freely, without further manoeuvres, collecting scientific data during the descent.

The trajectory shown in this animation is created from real data provided in the last month, but may not necessarily follow the exact distance/time details because of natural deviations in the trajectory associated with the comet’s gravity and outgassing.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/fO3oMtm9jBs

Visualising Rosetta's descent

Published on Sep 26, 2016


Animation visualising Rosetta's descent to Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on 30 September 2016. The sequence is speeded up to show the relative motion of Rosetta and the rotating comet below.

Rosetta will target a smooth region close to several large pits measuring more than 100 m across and 60 m deep, on the small lobe of the comet.

The impact time is predicted as 11:20 GMT +/- 20 minutes on 30 September.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/r448GNAJ9j0

Rosetta: Small particles, big science

Published on Sep 27, 2016


Small particles from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, obtained by multiple instruments on the Rosetta mission, are furthering our understanding of some big science.

The formation and evolution of our Solar System played a vital role in how Earth, and the human race, came into existence. Since comets are remnants from our early Solar System, even a grain of microscopic dust can offer insight. Recently the orbiter’s COSIMA instrument discovered organic material in the form of carbon, far more complex than expected, inside several particles collected from the comet’s coma, or atmosphere. Its best match is a meteorite in the Orgueil collection, in France, which came from a now extinct comet.

The COSIMA, GIADA and MIDAS instruments have all been collecting particles but MIDAS is concentrating on those smaller than 50 micrometres. One of these particles is special as it has an unusual repeating, fractal-like structure, seen for the first time in a comet and thought to be a survivor of the violent compaction process during the comet’s formation.

Rosetta’s results are therefore having an impact on how scientists view the evolution of our Solar System, including our home planet.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/lVKFyFbfpOI

Once upon a time... Rosetta's grand finale

Published on Sep 27, 2016


Rosetta revisits the exciting scientific discoveries she made during her time at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, including the successful search to find Philae. Finally, she starts preparing to descend to the comet for the end of her extraordinary mission.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/hQNV4sZfYiQ

The Rosetta legacy

Published on Sep 29, 2016


Besides its scientific and operational successes, the Rosetta mission has captured the imagination of many people worldwide, stimulating them to produce art and music, and undertake other creative activities with friends and families. Many even made further education or career choices inspired by the mission.This video features a selection of contributions that were shared on the Rosetta Legacy tumblr in September 2016.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/vcYo-qQ5HbA

Once upon a time... mission complete

Published on Sep 30, 2016


On the last day of her incredible mission, Rosetta slowly descends to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. After having sent her extraordinary data back home, she is ready to join Philae for a well deserved rest on the comet. But is there one last surprise in store?

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/GNoJz50YNJI

Rosetta end of mission

Published on Sep 30, 2016


Inside the main control room at ESA's operation centre as the Rosetta spacecraft sends its last signal from Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, confirming the end of the spacecraft’s 12.5 year journey in space.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/dc-ICdwX5I0

Rosetta’s complete journey around the comet

Published on Dec 22, 2016


Animation visualising Rosetta’s trajectory around Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, from arrival to mission end.

The animation begins on 31 July 2014, during Rosetta’s final approach to the comet after its ten-year journey through space. The spacecraft arrived at a distance of 100 km on 6 August, from where it gradually approached the comet and entered initial mapping orbits that were needed to select a landing site for Philae. These observations also enabled the first comet science of the mission.The manoeuvres in the lead up to, during and after Philae’s release on 12 November are seen, before Rosetta settled into longer-term science orbits.

In February and March 2015 the spacecraft made several flybys. One of the closest triggered a ‘safe mode’ that forced it to retreat temporarily until it was safe to draw gradually closer again.

The comet’s increased activity in the lead up to and after perihelion in August 2015 meant that Rosetta remained well beyond 100 km for several months.In June 2015, contact was restored with Philae again – albeit temporary, with no permanent link able to be maintained, despite a series of dedicated trajectories flown by Rosetta for several weeks.

Following the closest approach to the Sun, Rosetta made a dayside far excursion some 1500 km from the comet, before re-approaching to closer orbits again, enabled by the reduction in the comet’s activity.

In March–April 2016 Rosetta went on another far excursion, this time on the night side, followed by a close flyby and orbits dedicated to a range of science observations.

In early August the spacecraft started flying elliptical orbits that brought it progressively closer to the comet. On 24 September Rosetta left its close, flyover orbits and switched into the start of a 16 x 23 km orbit that was used to prepare and line up for the final descent.

On the evening of 29 September Rosetta manoeuvred onto a collision course with the comet, beginning the final, slow descent from an altitude of 19 km. It collected scientific data throughout the descent and gently struck the surface at 10:39 GMT on 30 September in the Ma’at region on the comet’s ‘head’, concluding the mission.

The trajectory shown in this animation is created from real data, but the comet rotation is not. Distances are given with respect to the comet centre (except for the zero at the end to indicate completion), but may not necessarily follow the exact comet distance because of natural deviations from the comet’s gravity and outgassing. An arrow indicates the direction to the Sun as the camera viewpoint changes during the animation.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/HD2zrF3I_II

The amazing adventures of Rosetta and Philae

Published on Dec 23, 2016


Watch the amazing cartoon adventures of Rosetta and Philae, now back-to-back in one special feature-length production.

Find out how Rosetta and Philae first got inspired to visit a comet, and follow them on their incredible ten-year journey through the Solar System to their destination, flying around planets and past asteroids along the way. Watch as Philae tries to land on the comet and deals with some unexpected challenges!

Learn about the fascinating observations that Rosetta made as she watched the comet change before her eyes as they got closer to the Sun and then further away again. Finally, wish Rosetta farewell, as she, too, finishes her amazing adventure on the surface of the comet. Keep watching for one last surprise!

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/VjWrGWh93aY

Rosetta’s ongoing legacy

Published on May 30, 2017


Rosetta’s operational mission ended in September 2016, but for the scientists and instrument teams the mission is far from over. Scientists have only scratched the surface analysing the amount of data produced by the mission. As this information is scrutinised, new discoveries are made, including a surprise final extra image taken by the OSIRIS camera during the spacecraft’s controlled descent onto the comet.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/X-vdnkN_3p4

Rosetta’s ever-changing view of a comet

Published on Sep 24, 2017


These 210 images reflect Rosetta’s ever-changing view of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko between July 2014 and September 2016.

The sequence begins in the month leading up to Rosetta’s arrival on 6 August, when the comet was barely a few pixels in the field of view. Suddenly, the curious shape was revealed and Rosetta raced to image its surface, coming within 10 km, to find a suitable place for Philae to land just three months later.

Philae’s landing is featured with the ‘farewell’ images taken by both spacecraft of each other shortly after separation, and by Philae as it drew closer to the surface at its first touchdown point. An image taken at the final landing site is also shown.The subsequent images, taken by Rosetta, reflect the varying distance from the comet as well as the comet’s rise and fall in activity as they orbited the Sun.

Before the comet reached its most active phase in August 2015, Rosetta was able to make some close flybys, including one in which the lighting geometry from the Sun was such that the spacecraft’s shadow could be seen on the surface.

Then, owing to the increase of dust in the local environment, Rosetta had to maintain a safer distance and carry out scientific observations from afar, but this also gave some impressive views of the comet’s global activity, including jets and outburst events.

Once the activity began to subside, Rosetta could come closer again and conduct science nearer to the nucleus, including capturing more high-resolution images of the surface, and looking out for changes after this active period.

Eventually, as the comet returned to the colder outer Solar System, so the available solar power to operate Rosetta fell. The mission concluded with Rosetta making its own dramatic descent to the surface on 30 September 2016, the final images taken reflected in the last images shown in this montage.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/xVpw5pQEiRY

Rosetta science continues

Published on May 31, 2018


The Rosetta mission completed operations in September 2016, but the science is still going strong. Rosetta project scientist, Matt Taylor, gives a preview on the hottest science topics being discussed at the 49th Rosetta science workshop this week, and how the results will help guide future cometary exploration.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/MH5crMuuf_0

Rosetta’s final images

Published on Jun 21, 2018


Enjoy this compilation of with the last images taken by Rosetta’s high resolution OSIRIS camera during the mission’s final hours at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. As it moved closer towards the surface it scanned across an ancient pit and sent back images showing what would become its final resting place.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/ADDAgVENz7s

Interview with Rosetta’s camera team

Published on Jun 21, 2018


Members of the OSIRIS camera team, the high-resolution science camera onboard Rosetta, talk to ESA Web TV about the mission’s final images and finding Philae, as well as their latest discoveries and ongoing work.

The interview was filmed at Lindos on the Greek island of Rhodes, during the 49th Rosetta science team meeting in May 2018.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/0d_VAmyKlwA

Rosetta: the story continues

Published on Oct 1, 2018


This short movie shares an impression of some of the scientific highlights from Rosetta's mission at Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, as told through the voices of scientists working with Rosetta's vast dataset, two years after the mission ended.

Rosetta launched in 2004 and travelled for ten years to its destination before deploying the lander Philae to the comet's surface. Following the comet along its orbit around the Sun, Rosetta studied the comet's surface changes, its dusty, gassy environment and its interaction with the solar wind. Even though scientific operations concluded in September 2016 with Rosetta's own descent to the comet's surface, analysis of the mission's data will continue for decades.

Credits: This is an ESA Web TV production. The video contains artist impressions of the spacecraft (credit: ESA/ATG medialab) and animations/infographics by ESA. Images of the comet are from Rosetta's OSIRIS and NAVCAM cameras, as well as Philae's CIVA camera (credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA – CC BY SA 4.0; ESA/Rosetta/NavCam – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0; ESA/Rosetta/Philae/CIVA). Ground-based images were provided by Colin Snodgrass/Alan Fitzsimmons/Liverpool Telescope. The plasma visualisation is based on modelling and simulation by Technische Universität Braunschweig and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, and visualised by Zuse-Institut Berlin. The animation of Philae's flight across the surface is based on data from Philae's ROMAP, RPC-MAG, OSIRIS, ROLIS, CIVA CONSERT, SESAME and MUPUS instrument teams, the Lander Control Centre at DLR and the Science Operation and Navigation Center at CNES.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/O-RTGbdkg7Q

Latest from Rosetta

Oct 6, 2019


Three years after the Rosetta mission officially ended in 2016, scientists met at ESA’s ESTEC facility in The Netherlands to discuss the latest findings at the final Science Working Team (SWT) meeting.

From the launch in 2004, to its arrival at comet 67P in 2014, Rosetta has been an emotional and inspiring mission. Its findings have furthered our understanding of comets and changed our perceptions of how the Solar System formed.

The mission produced an enormous amount of data which will keep many scientists busy for years. The OSIRIS camera, for example, took 100 000 images. These are archived - with the analysis of images recently providing further insight into the comet’s activity.

Rosetta’s legacy of cometary science and data is not just continuing to produce more work, however, it’s also inspiring the next generation of scientists. Some began working on Rosetta as students and are now taking their experience forward onto ESA’s future Comet Interceptor mission.

[Airicist]

https://youtu.be/KinazVWZ3Ag

Rosetta's ongoing science

Nov 12, 2019


On 12 November 2014 Philae became the first spacecraft to land on a comet as part of the successful Rosetta mission to study comet 67P. Five years later, and after the mission’s official end in 2016, Rosetta is continuing to provide insights into the origins of our Solar System.

Rosetta’s instruments have already discovered that the comet contained oxygen, organic molecules, noble gases and ’heavy’ or deuterated water different to that found on Earth.
As scientists continue to analyse data from Rosetta’s instruments, including the ionised gas or plasma, the results are improving our understanding of comets. Mission data is also being delivered to an archive as a future resource.

Rosetta orbits the Sun every 6.5 years and will pass the Earth again, visible from ground-based telescopes, in 2021. ESA’s future Comet Interceptor mission will build on Rosetta’s success when it
performs a flyby of a comet. But, unlike Rosetta, the comet will be new to our Solar System.