Author Topic: Space and Beyond Thread  (Read 6375 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Mac

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9913
  • Dewey Cheatham & Howe LLP
  • Location: Little Ol Town in the Midwest
    • View Profile
Re: Space and Beyond Thread
« Reply #75 on: August 06, 2014, 09:15:57 am »
Holy cow... check this 'little' space project out...


European Space Agency's Rosetta probe begins historic orbit around comet



Quote
After a decade-long pursuit through space, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft made history Wednesday by meeting up with, and entering orbit around a comet.

The tiny spacecraft arrived for its highly anticipated rendezvous with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, 405 million kilometers from Earth, shortly after 9 A.M. GMT.

Its entry into orbit around 67P was triggered by a short thruster burn, which set the probe on the first leg of its journey to follow the comet through the solar system.

"After 10 years, five months and four days travelling toward our destination, looping around the Sun five times and clocking up 6.4 billion kilometers, we are delighted to announce finally 'we are here'," ESA's director general Jean-Jacques Dordain announced.

Rosetta is the first mission to orbit the nucleus of a comet. The spacecraft will accompany the comet for more than a year as it hurtles through the inner solar system at nearly 55,000 kilometers per hour.

The culminating point of the programme is planned for November, when the spacecraft will attempt to land a probe on the comet's surface.

Launched in 2004, Rosetta aims to collect data on the comet that will shed light on the creation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago.

Comets are considered to be primitive building blocks of the solar system.
Rosetta will observe how the icy celestial body is transformed by the warmth of the sun.

"Rosetta aims to unlock the secrets within," the ESA said.
Believe in Yourself
Because the rest of us think you're an idiot.

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
1 Replies
268 Views
Last post February 13, 2012, 03:06:34 pm
by Chiprocks1
4 Replies
387 Views
Last post March 11, 2015, 09:48:09 am
by Chiprocks1
3 Replies
322 Views
Last post August 05, 2014, 05:53:06 pm
by Neumatic
3 Replies
507 Views
Last post July 15, 2015, 07:18:36 pm
by Neumatic
0 Replies
298 Views
Last post June 30, 2016, 12:06:42 pm
by Mac

Automatic Image Resize Code