SATELLITES & SPACE PROBES A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z           HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Rosetta An ESA (European Space Agency) spacecraft, launched on Mar. 2, 2004, that will rendezvous with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. Along the way it will fly past two asteroids: Steins, only a few km across, in September 2008, and Lutetia, 100 km wide, in July 2010. The Steins rendezvous will take place on Sep. 5, 2008 at a distance of just over 1,700 km. This encounter will be conducted at a relatively low speed of about 9 km/s during Rosetta's first excursion into the asteroid belt. The Lutetia pass will occur at a distance of about 3,000 km on Jul. 10, 2010 at a speed of 15 km/s. This will be during Rosetta's second passage through the asteroid belt. The mission's main goal is to meet up with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko in early 2014. At this time, the comet will be cold and inactive, and Rosetta will be able to release a washing-machine-sized lander, called Philae, on to the object's surface. The orbiter and lander will then record changes in the comet as it hurtles in towards the Sun at speeds up to 135,000 km/hr. Rosetta had originally been scheduled for launch in January 2003 and to rendezvous with Comet Wirtanen in 2011. En route it was to have flown past asteroids Otawara in 2006 and Siwa in 2008. However, missed its original launch window because of concerns over its Ariane V launch vehicle (a different version of which had failed on the previous flight). Related entry    • comet and asteroid missions Related category    • SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES Archived news Comet spacecraft makes Earth pass (Mar 3, 2005) Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP