ESASSASpace DebrisESOCSpacecraft OperationsGround Systems EngineeringESOC History
   
Background
About usProfile: The Right Stuff
SSA programme
Space Situational Awareness
Multimedia (click)
Mission families
Solar & planetaryAstronomy & Fundamental PhysicsEarth ObservationHuman SpaceflightTechnology DemonstrationPast missionsESA mission history- Find a mission: A...Z
Mission control centres
ATV Control Centre (ATV-CC)Columbus Control Centre (Col-CC)
Worldwide ground station network
ESTRACK tracking stationsESTRACK Control Centre- Find a station: A...Z
OPS Community
Advanced Mission Concepts & Technologies OfficeHSO ExchangeKnowledge ManagementESA Ground Operation System (EGOS)
Services
PublicationsESA-sponsored conferencesHelpSubscribe
 
 
 
Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 
Article Images
Rosetta operations
 
 
  The mission
 
Rosetta


Credits: ESA
 
  The Flight Control Team
 
A. Accomazzo
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 3211 kb)
Andrea Accomazzo was SOM for Venus Express until 1 Dec 2006. He is now SOM for Rosetta.

Credits: ESA-J.Mai/juergenmai.com
 
  Mission operations overview
 
Rosetta launch, 19 December 2000
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 20 kb)
Launch of Ariane-5 flight V138 from the European Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana, 19 December 2000.

Credits: ESA
 
 
Download:
 HI-RES MOV (Size: 18 738 kb)
In this animation, Rosetta can be seen approaching Mars (red planet) and then swinging behind Mars with respect to Earth (blue planet) and the Sun (at centre), for a net reduction in velocity. Closest approach (250 km) is expected at 01:57:59.0 UTC, 25 February, +/- 1.3 seconds.

The animation clearly shows Rosetta swinging behind Mars to be eclipsed with respect to the Sun and occultated with respect to the Earth.

Credits: ESA - C. Carreau

 
 
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 39 kb)
The Rosetta orbiter swoops over the lander soon after touchdown on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Credits: Astrium - Erik Viktor
 
  The ground station
New Norcia
 
New Norcia antenna
New Norcia antenna

Credits: ESA
 
  Ground segment & mission control system
 
SCOS-2000 MCS
Download:
 HI-RES PNG (Size: 2 kb)
This mission uses SCOS-2000, the European standard mission control system developed at ESOC.

Credits: ESA
 
  The platform and payload
 
Spacecraft design
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1419 kb)
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.

Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab
 
 
Artist view of the Rosetta lander
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 619 kb)
The Philae lander at work on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. While Rosetta studies the comet from close orbit, Philae will obtain measurements from the surface.

Immediately after touchdown in November 2014, a harpoon will be fired to anchor the lander and prevent it from escaping the comet’s extremely weak gravity. The minimum targeted mission time for Philae is one week, but surface operations may continue for many months. The measurements from the Rosetta orbiter will last from August 2014 to the end of 2015.

Credits: ESA / AOES Medialab

 


More information
Rosetta overviewRosetta in-depthRosetta Science Operations Centre Rosetta BlogESA's ATV blog direct from ATV mission control
Images, animationsRosetta logo
Ground stations
New Norcia - DSA 1
Launch vehicle
Ariane 5 Generic Related videoClick here
Rosetta brochure (PDF)
Related
Philae Control Centre (DLR)DLR Rosetta special
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2012 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.