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ESA's comet chaser to fly by Earth

23 February 2005

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During the course of its journey to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Rosetta, is making use of several gravitational ‘kicks’: one at Mars on 25 February 2007 (250 km distance) and three at Earth: 4 March 2005 (1995 km distance), 13 November 2007 (5301 km distance) and 13 November 2009 (2500 km distance). Manoeuvres to correct Rosetta's orbit take place before and after each swing-by.

Credits: ESA, image by AOES Medialab

Europe's comet chaser

ESA's comet chaser

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