ESA - Space Science - Rosetta starts tracking asteroid Steins

Space Science

About Space Science ESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth

Multimedia

Science images Science videos Animations Downloads Sounds from space

Media centre

Press Releases Press kits ESA Television

Resources

Reference section Glossary FAQs

Science missions

Services

Help Legal disclaimer Comments Subscribe

RSS feeds

ESA Sci on Twitter

Article Images

Rosetta starts tracking asteroid Steins

4 August 2008

Back to article

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.

Credits: ESA, image by AOES Medialab

Back to article

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

OSIRIS to obtain Steins' 'light curves'

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES JPG (Size: 321 kb)

Brightness variation of the asteroid measured continuously over one day. The maximum in the light curve is about 23 percent brighter than the minimum.

Credits: Stefano Mottola (DLR), OSIRIS team

ESA's comet chaser

Space Operations &
Situational Awareness

Where is Rosetta now?

Intense preparations for Rosetta's asteroid visit Rosetta awakes from hibernation for asteroid encounter The Moon and Europe - Rosetta OSIRIS images Rosetta: OSIRIS’ view of Earth by night Cities at night: Extraordinary Rosetta images

OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System)Debris of the Solar System: Asteroids Asteroids: The discovery of asteroids Asteroids: Families of asteroids Asteroids: Structure and composition of asteroids