Rosetta is a European Space Agency (ESA) built and launched, semi-autonomous robotic spacecraft on its mission to study the environment, physical properties and dynamics of the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko as it passes close to the Sun and forms its coma and tails. It is a large orbiter with 12 onboard instruments, and a robotic lander Philae designed to touch down and grip to the comet's surface to study its nucleus. See also the [philae] tag.
Questions tagged [rosetta]
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Why was the Rosetta probe programmed to "auto shutoff" at the moment of hitting the surface?
It is written here that before the final descent Rosetta was programmed for "auto shutoff" after reaching the surface of the comet, to prevent the possibility of the further communications in the case of unlikely survival.
What is the reason for…
Nightrider
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How accurately do they know where Rosetta is, and how do they know?
Title says it all really: how accurately do they know where the Rosetta space vehicle is at any given time, and how do they know that?
GreenAsJade
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Is Rosetta really "in orbit around" 67P, or just conveniently co-located?
The pictures of Rosettas orbit show it doing some straight legs past 67P for the next while.-
Does this mean that at the current distance, the force of 67P's gravity is not really significant, and Rosetta is not really (yet) "in orbit" but rather…
GreenAsJade
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Could Rosetta have lassoed Chury to hitch a ride instead of chasing after it for 10 years?
The Rosetta probe had to fly-by several bodies to acquire the necessary velocity to match 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (Chury). Towards this end it was launched almost a decade in advance. Philae will fire a pair of harpoons to anchor itself to the…
Everyone
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Why doesn't 67P get a name?
Now that it is a really special comet, and every one is talking about it, why doesn't it get a name, instead of just a number?
GreenAsJade
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