Timeline: Mars swingby at 36 000 km/hr


Animated sequence illustrating Rosetta's slew
 
This slew brings the spacecraft back to the default cruise orientation and adds an additional slew to prepare for the swingby, during which:
  • all Rosetta instruments are switched off; only the lander instruments will operate
  • all Rosetta instruments are rotated into shadow before the spacecraft actually swings behind Mars (they will therefore not 'see' any difference and there is no risk of an unwanted automated reaction
  • Rosetta instruments are pointing in the correct direction to observe Phobos when Rosetta exits the shadow of Mars, without additional slews


Rosetta swingby seen from Earth
 
In this artist's representation, Rosetta's track past Mars on 25 February 2007 is shown as viewed from Earth. The track is based on actual estimated flight dynamics data. Closest approach - 250 km altitude - is expected at 01:57:59.0 UTC, 25 February, +/- 1.3 seconds.

The pre- and post-Mars swingby velocities relative to the Sun are the sums (added vectorially) of Mars velocity relative to the Sun (91 454 km/hr) and Rosetta's velocity relative to Mars. This gives a pre-Mars swingby velocity of 86 666 km/hr relative to the Sun and a post-Mars swingby velocity of 78 779 km/hr relative to the Sun. The swingby should therefore reduce Rosetta's velocity relative to the Sun by 7887 km/hr.

ESA/NASA interagency cooperation supports Rosetta
 
ESA's first 35-metre deep-space ground station
 
ESA's first 35-metre deep-space ground station is situated at New Norcia, 140 kilometres north of Perth in Australia. The 630 tonne antenna will be used to track Rosetta and Mars Express, the latter to be launched in 2003, as well as other missions in deep space. The ground station was officially opened on 5 March 2003 by the Premier of Western Australia, Hon Dr Geoff Gallop.



Release date: 9 April 2010