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> Rosetta spacecraft orbiting a comet nucleus
Rosetta spacecraft orbiting a comet nucleus
author: ESA/AOES Medialab/Novapix
reference: e-son30-00112
Image Size 300 DPI: 33 * 25 cm
This artist's impression shows the Rosetta spacecraft orbiting a comet nucleus. The ESA Rosetta mission
comprises a large orbiter, which is designed to operate for a decade at large distances from the Sun, and a small lander. Each of these carries a large complement of scientific experiments designed to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever attempted. After entering orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014, the spacecraft will release a small lander onto the icy nucleus, then spend the next two years orbiting the comet as it heads towards the Sun. On the way to Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta will receive gravity assists from Earth and Mars, and fly past main belt asteroids. Rosetta's 10 year expedition began in March 2004, with an Ariane-5 launch from Kourou in French Guiana.
comprises a large orbiter, which is designed to operate for a decade at large distances from the Sun, and a small lander. Each of these carries a large complement of scientific experiments designed to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever attempted. After entering orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014, the spacecraft will release a small lander onto the icy nucleus, then spend the next two years orbiting the comet as it heads towards the Sun. On the way to Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta will receive gravity assists from Earth and Mars, and fly past main belt asteroids. Rosetta's 10 year expedition began in March 2004, with an Ariane-5 launch from Kourou in French Guiana.
Keywords for this photo:
67P/CHURYUMOV-GERASIMENKO - ASTRONOMY - COMET - ILLUSTRATION - NUCLEUS - ORBIT - ROSETTA - SOLAR PANEL - SPACE - SPACECRAFT - SPACEPROBE -
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