After three months in orbit around its target comet, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.int%2FOur_Activities%2FSpace_Science%2FRosetta%2FThe_Rosetta_lander" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rosetta's Philae lander will be deployed</a> from the orbiter on November 12, 2014. Once in position, the lander will self-deploy, unfold its three legs and descend. Once on the surface, a harpoon will anchor it in place and a thruster will push the lander downwards.
Rosetta landing: 10 years in the making —
After three months in orbit around its target comet, Rosetta's Philae lander will be deployed from the orbiter on November 12, 2014. Once in position, the lander will self-deploy, unfold its three legs and descend. Once on the surface, a harpoon will anchor it in place and a thruster will push the lander downwards.
ESA/ATG medialab
Scientists hope the lander will provide data from surface operations for at least a week, and continue for months as the comet travels toward the Sun. This incredible close up of the comet surface was taken from the Rosetta orbiter upon approach, from a distance of 130km, in early August. The image shows a range of features including boulders, craters and steep cliffs.
Rosetta landing: 10 years in the making —
Scientists hope the lander will provide data from surface operations for at least a week, and continue for months as the comet travels toward the Sun. This incredible close up of the comet surface was taken from the Rosetta orbiter upon approach, from a distance of 130km, in early August. The image shows a range of features including boulders, craters and steep cliffs.
ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
During its 10-year comet chase, Rosetta zipped by Asteroid Steins at a distance of 500 miles (800 km). The asteroid is about 3 miles (5 km) in diameter. Scientists were amazed the asteroid survived the impact that created its large crater.
Rosetta landing: 10 years in the making —
During its 10-year comet chase, Rosetta zipped by Asteroid Steins at a distance of 500 miles (800 km). The asteroid is about 3 miles (5 km) in diameter. Scientists were amazed the asteroid survived the impact that created its large crater.
ESA
The ESA-led project was launched from French Guiana in 2004. Here you can see a European Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Rosetta spacecraft as it lifts off from Kourou on March 2.
Rosetta landing: 10 years in the making —
The ESA-led project was launched from French Guiana in 2004. Here you can see a European Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Rosetta spacecraft as it lifts off from Kourou on March 2.
ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE
Rosetta's probe Philae will be the first probe to make a soft landing on a comet, but in 2005, NASA's Deep Impact probe successfully collided with Comet 9P/Tempel 1. This image was taken by the spacecraft's high-resolution camera 13 seconds after impact. The image has been digitally processed to better show the comet's nucleus.
Rosetta landing: 10 years in the making —
Rosetta's probe Philae will be the first probe to make a soft landing on a comet, but in 2005, NASA's Deep Impact probe successfully collided with Comet 9P/Tempel 1. This image was taken by the spacecraft's high-resolution camera 13 seconds after impact. The image has been digitally processed to better show the comet's nucleus.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD