Rosetta starts tracking asteroid Steins


Asteroid Steins will be tracked by ESA's Rosetta comet chaser
 
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.

Spacecraft design
 
The Rosetta orbiter - spacecraft design
Rosetta resembles a large aluminium box whose dimensions are 2.8 x 2.1 x 2.0 metres. The scientific instruments are mounted on the 'top' of the box – the Payload Support Module – while the subsystems are on the 'base' or Bus Support Module.

OSIRIS to obtain Steins' 'light curves'
 
Light curve of the asteroid Steins
 
Brightness variation of the asteroid measured continuously over one day. The maximum in the light curve is about 23 percent brighter than the minimum.



Release date: 22 August 2008