The Rosetta orbiter
Rosetta was a large aluminium box with dimensions 2.8 x 2.1 x 2.0 metres. The scientific instruments were mounted on the 'top' of the box (Payload Support Module) while the subsystems were on the 'base' (Bus Support Module).
31 DEC. 2003
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The Rosetta orbiter's scientific payload included 11 experiments, in addition to the lander. Scientific consortia from institutes across Europe and the United States provided these state-of-the-art instruments. All of them were located on the side of the spacecraft that permanently faced the comet during the main scientific phase of the mission.
For a brief overview of each instrument, follow the links below.
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The Rosetta lander
The 100-kilogram Rosetta lander is provided by a European consortium under the leadership of the German Aerospace Research Institute (DLR). Other members of the consortium are ESA and institutes from Austria, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and the UK.
ALICE
ALICE (Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer) analyses gases in the coma and tail and measures the comet's production rates of water and carbon monoxide/dioxide. It also provides information on the surface composition of the nucleus.
CONSERT
CONSERT (Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission) probes the comet's interior by studying radio waves that are reflected and scattered by the nucleus.
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