26 FEB. 2007
Udgivelsesdato
1074
Visninger
On 25 February at 03:15 CET, Rosetta successfully swung past Mars at 250 km altitude, speeding away at 36 000 km/hour in a crucial gravity assist.
On 25 February, engineers at ESA's Space Operations Centre confirmed that Rosetta had successfully swung by Mars in the second of four critical gravity assists in its ten-year voyage to comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Closest approach occurred at 03:15 CET at an altitude of 250 km; departure velocity was estimated to be 36 191 km/hour relative to the Sun (all times indicate Earth receive time).
In addition to confirming extensive and careful operations preparations, the successful passage allowed scientists to switch on several of the spacecraft's instruments as well as the camera onboard the Philae lander to image Mars. Results will help calibrate instruments after comparison to parallel observations made by ESA's Mars Express.
Mediemodal
Mars swing-by success
On 25 February at 03:15 CET, Rosetta successfully swung past Mars at 250 km altitude, speeding away at 36 000 km/hour in a crucial gravity assist. Podcast Listen now | Download
Rosetta Mars swing-by
After its swingby of Earth in March 2005, ESA's Rosetta comet chaser is about to make the second of its four planetary flybys: Mars.VodcastPlay now | Download
Critical Mars swingby
Red Planet gives gravity assist for ESA's comet-chasing Rosetta mission. VodcastPlay now | Download
Mediemodal
Relaterede links
ESApod
Windows Media Player
QuickTime
Del denne side
bliv opdateret
Tilmeld dig vores nyhedsbrev for at modtage de seneste nyheder, missionsopdateringer og eksklusiv indsigt direkte i din indbakke. Vær blandt de første til at få besked om vores kommende projekter og gennembrud.