Rosetta status

Rosetta has another three months of science to collect before its historic mission comes to an end. But the mission is not resting on its laurels. It has just broken a new record by flying an orbit 7 kms from the comet’s centre – just 5 kms from the surface – and there are more breathtaking manoeuvres to come.

This film describes the orbits that Rosetta will undertake around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the changes in the amount of gas coming off the comet, and examines the importance of finding phosphorus and glycine - an amino acid that is essential for life.

It also discusses the mission’s most recent discoveries of Xenon and Krypton, together with most of their isotopes. These noble gases were detected by the ROSINA instrument during the period when Rosetta was flying extremely close to the comet. More important science is expected to be released during the next few months.

More about Rosetta:

[DavidODuvall]

Rosetta is an incredible mission success with outstanding scientific results. Cheers to ESA and the Rosetta mission team!

[ossie]

Well done ESA and the Rosetta team! Very exciting!

[KaanTechCrazy]

so it farts when orbiting sun relatively closer
jokes aside
finding complex amino acids on our first asteroid...
universe must be a life creating machine.

[MalfunctonMke]

Thank you Esa. What happens to Rosetta when the mission comes to an end? Maybe landing it beforehand?

[ilya]

спасибо! Вашими глазами человечество взглянуло на такие странные объекты ночного неба вблизи! Мир един! Космос для всех!

[tempo]

Energy we need it, we need more of it, to achieve the ultimate well being status.

[hindosgottenberg]

I'm curious how they calculate the maneuvers, did they piece together a virtual representation of the comet (including measurements of the density) to compensate for any minor gravitational influence it might have (or is that too negligible?). I also imagine that might change in different parts of its orbit, with other solar objects approaching closer to the comet.

[NeWx]

Wait, isn't it really huge. Would it really float on the ocean? would be odd seeing a floating mountain.

[psygamarerotu]

Amazing work everyone😊So far😊👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏Thank you all☺

[theColJessep]

So, the UK is not leaving ESA, right? I mean, they already left the EU and the European Championship...

[GengoNoTabi]

So the little lander is just dead I guess?