ESA Rosetta to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

kane007 · Nov 30, 2006

Though the primary mission is rendezvous and sub probe landing on comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko between August and November 2014, Rosetta will be investigating other targets enroute. Two such targets are upcoming in the next few months: 1. 2007/01/02 Rosetta will use its on-board camera OSIRIS in this 36-hour observation campaign pf asteroid 21-Lutetia. This lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt. 2. 2007/02/25 Rosetta will swing around Mars for a gravity assist. Science observations should last through then to the end of March. Martian closest approach will be 250 kilometres. 25 minute blackout behind Mars during which time the probe will be placed in a “slumber” mode as the solar panels will be in shadow. The Philae lander can however use its own independent power system during this to collect data. Further rendezvous are: 2nd Earth Gravity Assist November 2007 3rd Earth Gravity Assist November 2009 2nd 21-Lutetia Flyby July 2010 – 2000 kilometres Rosetta will use its imaging system and imaging spectrometers to gather data about the surface and atmosphere of Mars and its chemical composition. It will also collect data about the atmosphere's interaction with the solar wind and the Martian radiation environment, and it will image the two natural satellites of Mars: Phobos and Deimos. LINKS: Nasa SpaceDaily

kane007 · Jan 5, 2007

First Payload Active Checkout Of Rosetta Completed The reporting period covers two weeks of active cruise for Rosetta, including the last Active Checkout week and a thermal characterisation. The first payload Active Checkout campaign, which started on 22 November, was completed on 22 December. During the reporting period, the operated instruments included ALICE, OSIRIS, ROSINA, COSIMA, MIDAS, RPC and SREM. ...See also ESA SCIENCE:Rosetta Status Report #72.

3488 · Jan 8, 2007

Rosetta made long range observations from 2nd January to 4th January with OSIRIS, of the very large main belt, Type M (Metallic) asteroid 21 Lutetia, (approximate diameter 100 KM) which will be closely encountered later on during the mission & will be imaged in high resolution, the first time that a LARGE main belt asteroid has been encountered, as well as the first Type M seen at close quarters. 21 Lutetia may well rotate on its side, like 2 Pallas, 7 Iris, 433 Eros & the Uranus system. Light curves suggest that 21 Lutetia is a multi faceted asteroid, with one side being somewhat 'flatened', & its north pole pointed in the general direction of western Taurus the Bull. Between 2 and 3 January 2007 Rosetta will 'warm-up' its on-board camera OSIRIS to take a look at the asteroid 21 Lutetia that lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in the Asteroid Belt. The purpose of this 36-hour observation campaign is to understand the rotation direction of the asteroid. This valuable information will enable scientists to characterise this target so that Rosetta can study it in greater detail in July 2010, when the spacecraft will pass within about 2000 km of the asteroid Also in addition to the above, well worth remembering that Rosetta carries out an encounter with Mars on Sunday 25th February 2006, just four days before New Horizons closest approach to Jupiter!! Rosetta will be able to observe Mars from about 20 hours before it makes its closest approach to about a few weeks after. Before making its close approach to Mars, priority will be given to spacecraft operations. If the in-flight tests planned for 7 January reveal that the spacecraft's illumination and thermal conditions are not favourable for its own navigational security, then all the science operations that are to be carried out before it makes its close approach will have to be cancelled. In any event, just around the time of closest approach, the orbiter's instr <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jan 29, 2007

This animated sequence is composed of images gathered by the OSIRIS camera on board the Rosetta orbiter on 2 January 2007. It shows asteroid 21-Lutetia, as seen by the spacecraft from a distance of about 245 million kilometres, during a remote-sensing observation campaign of this object that lasted 36 hours. The asteroid can be seen as the near-stationary spot visible at the centre of the image. The scattered spots seen in the movie are cosmic rays events, that is high-energy cosmic radiation hitting the detectors of OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System). Together with 2867-Steins, 21-Lutetia is one of the two target asteroids that Rosetta will study during its long trek to comet 67P-Churyumov-Gersimenko. The two asteroids will be visited at close range in September 2008 and July 2010, respectively. Credits: ESA/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jan 29, 2007

This view of Mars (visible towards the top of the image) and of the Milky Way was taken by the OSRIS camera on board the Rosetta orbiter on 3 December 2006, during the last series of instrument check-outs. In this image Mars is heavily overexposed and therefore surrounded by a halo of scattered light. OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) will continue to image Mars during the next major mission phase: the swing-by of planet Mars at the end of February 2007. Rosetta will use its imaging system and imaging spectrometers to gather data about the surface and atmosphere of the Red Planet, including its chemical composition. It will also collect data about the interaction of the atmosphere with the solar wind and about the Martian radiation environment. It will also image the two natural satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. Credits: ESA/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

galactichalo · Feb 21, 2007

Red Planet gives gravity assist for ESA's comet-chasing Rosetta mission. http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESApod/SEM7FNBE8YE_0.html

3488 · Feb 22, 2007

We also have this update for the upcoming Rosetta Mars encounter on Sunday 25th February 2007. Rosetta to look for Martian Rings. Rosetta will observe the orbits of the two moon Phobos & Deimos for faint rings orbiting the Red Planet. Dust knocked off Phobos & Deimos can escape them both, but be trapped in an Aerocentric orbit. The escape velocity for Phobos is a mere 50 KMH / 31 MPH & for Deimos a scant 24 KPH / 15 MPH. Both moons are thought to be captured type C (Carbonaceous) asteroids, more commonly found in the outer part of the main asteroid belt, though a few such as asteroid 253 Mathilde & the biggest daddy of them all 1 Ceres, do come closer in. Rosetta will image both Phobos & Deimos & will provide the best images of Deimos since the Viking 2 orbiter in 1978. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Feb 23, 2007

New Update on the upcoming Mars Encounter on: Sunday 25th February 2007.

Andrew Brown. "I

MeteorWayne · Feb 25, 2007

Nice images from the flyby here <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

brellis · Feb 25, 2007

Hi Andrew This view of Mars (visible towards the top of the image) and of the Milky Way was taken by the OSRIS camera on board the Rosetta orbiter on 3 December 2006 Man, what a view! More so than with the NH pics approaching Jupiter, I can almost imagine being there, on my way to Mars. It's really cool to see a pic like this after reading about discussions of manned missions to Mars. I wonder how long Rosetta can stay alive. They were nervous about the batteries keeping Rosetta alive during 24 minutes of dark time as it swings behind the Red Planet. Would that mean they have little room for error with regard to the solar panels tracking El Sol? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better. </div>

brellis · Feb 25, 2007

Looking for an answer to my own Q -- *thank you, Internet!* -- I poked around the ESA Rosetta site and found this: nominal spacecraft lifetime is 11 years in heliocentric trajectory the achievement of this lifetime is helped by the long hibernation periods during cruise, where most of the electrical systems are not operational. This hibernation increases their lifetime by a factor of 10 but requires onboard autonomy to guarantee continued operation in all circumstances subsystem reliability maximised by a comprehensive redundancy, including 'hot' redundancy (backup units actually on standby) for functions which are essential for a continuous, uninterrupted operation during critical mission phases I'm going to guess that what they were nervous about was actually having all the instruments ON while being dark for 24 minutes. Anyway, I'm glad they made it through! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better. </div>

kane007 · Feb 25, 2007

This is possibly the coolest photo EVER of Mars!

MeteorWayne · Feb 25, 2007

Check out the latest <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

mithridates · Feb 25, 2007

So did we get Phobos and Deimos as well? I hate waiting for images. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----- http://mithridates.blogspot.com </div>

3488 · Feb 26, 2007

Hi there.

Superb images. Thank you for posting them & a great link MeteorWayne. I will download them.

Great updates. I sincerely hope that we did get Phobos & Deimos. They were on the manifest.

We have not had any decent images of Deimos since Viking 2 orbiter in October 1977 & only been imaged once since then by Mars Global Surveyor.

The encounter was a complete success.

Looking forward to further updates.

Andrew Brown. "I

tohaki · Feb 26, 2007

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />This is possibly the coolest photo EVER of Mars!<hr /></blockquote>I agree completely! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

JonClarke · Feb 26, 2007

Awesome! Where id you get it? Thanks Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

MeteorWayne · Feb 26, 2007

It'a available on the Rosetta Image page here <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

JonClarke · Feb 26, 2007

Thanks! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Feb 27, 2007

Hi everyone. Phobos passing over Mars as seen from Rosetta. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Mar 21, 2007

OSIRIS camera on Rosetta obtains ‘light curve’ of asteroid 2867 Steins. 20 March 2007 During the very first observations of Rosetta’s flyby target 2867 Steins in March 2006 the onboard camera OSIRIS obtained the most accurate ‘light curve’ of this asteroid so far. OSIRIS observed Steins from a distance of 159 million kilometres and, from there, it obtained images and important clues about its characteristics. Although ESA’s Rosetta is still far away from its destination comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its flyby targets 2867-Steins and 21-Lutetia, scientists have already started to collect preliminary data about these two largely unexplored asteroids. Advanced knowledge of the asteroids’ properties (like size and rotation period) is essential for the preparation of the planned asteroid observation campaigns in September 2008 and July 2010, respectively. Light curve of the asteroid Steins “Lutetia was imaged by Rosetta on 2 and 3 January 2007, whereas Steins was already observed during a 24-hour observation campaign on 11 March 2006. Both observations were aimed at pre-characterizing the rotation direction of the asteroid. This can be done by the study of the so-called 'light curve' of the asteroid from different locations – by analysing how the light emitted by the observed object changes intensity for different observers, one can deduce in what direction the object rotates” explains Michael Küppers from the Max-Planck-Institute for Solar System Research. The Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) on board Rosetta is up to this ambitious task. On its interplanetary cruise it provided an observing geometry of Steins that cannot be obtained from Earth. Although the brightness of the Steins asteroid during the measurement period was comparable to that of a candle seen at a distance of ~2000 kilometres, OSIRIS was able to measure brightness variations of the astero <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Oct 25, 2007

Rosetta lining up for next Earth swingby. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Nov 12, 2007

Update & timeline for tomorrow's (13/11/07) Rosetta Earth / Moon encounter. Time of closest approach:. 21:57 CET. 20:57 UT, 15:57 EST, 14:57 CST, 13:57 MST & 12:57 PST. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Nov 13, 2007

Don't forget, Rosetta encounters Earth this afternoon / evening. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

usn_skwerl · Nov 13, 2007

*ducks and covers, and gets plastic sheet and duct tape just in case* <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

ESA Rosetta to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

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