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Rosetta awakes from hibernation for asteroid encounter

3 July 2008

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On its way to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta is targeting two asteroids for study: (2867) Steins, on 5 September 2008, and (21) Lutetia on 10 June 2010.

Credits: ESA, image by AOES Medialab

Next stop, Steins

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This is an artist’s rendition of Rosetta’s closest approach to Earth during its second swing-by of our planet on 13 November 2007. The image shows the fly-by configuration as seen from above.

The second Earth swing-by in November 2007 was Rosetta’s third major step on its 11-year journey to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. In swinging by Earth, the spacecraft gained the right amount of energy from Earth’s gravity to save precious fuel for later on.

Closest approach during the second Earth swing-by took place on 13 November 2007 at 21:57 CET, when Rosetta will sped past at 45 000 km/h (about 12.5 km/s) relative to Earth. At this time, Rosetta was 5301 km above the Pacific Ocean, south-west of Chile, at 63° 46’ South and 74° 35’ West.

During this Earth swing-by, a few experiments both on the orbiter and the Philae lander were activated for calibration, science measurements and imaging. Rosetta first pointed towards Earth and then to the Moon for the observations.

Credits: ESA/C.Carreau

Making most of the fly-by

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Rosetta’s 11-year expedition began in March 2004, with an Ariane 5 launch from Kourou in French Guiana, and the spacecraft was then sent towards the outer Solar System. The long journey includes three gravity assists at Earth (2004, 2007, 2009), one at Mars (2007), and two asteroid encounters: (2867) Steins (2008) and (21) Lutetia (2010).

Rosetta will reach Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014, and will be the first mission ever to orbit a comet’s nucleus and to deliver a lander, called Philae, on its surface.

Ensuring that the spacecraft survives the hazards of travelling through deep space for more than 12 years is one of the great challenges of the mission.

Credits: ESA, image by AOES Medialab

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