Rosetta Mission

Definition

The Rosetta mission was a landmark European Space Agency (ESA) space probe that was launched in 2004 with the goal of studying the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It was the first spacecraft to orbit a comet and land a probe on its surface, providing unprecedented insights into the composition and behavior of comets.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Rosetta spacecraft was launched in 2004 and spent over 10 years traveling to its target comet, 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
2. Rosetta was the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, providing unprecedented close-up observations of a comet's nucleus and coma.
3. The Rosetta mission included a lander called Philae, which successfully touched down on the surface of 67P in 2014, becoming the first spacecraft to land on a comet's nucleus.
4. Rosetta and Philae collected a wealth of data on the physical and chemical composition of the comet, as well as its activity and evolution over time.
5. The Rosetta mission provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the Solar System, as comets are believed to be remnants from the early stages of the Solar System's formation.

Review Questions

• Describe the key objectives and achievements of the Rosetta mission.
  • The primary objectives of the Rosetta mission were to study the composition, structure, and behavior of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in unprecedented detail. The mission achieved several groundbreaking accomplishments, including becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, landing a probe (Philae) on the surface of a comet's nucleus, and collecting a wealth of data that has significantly improved our understanding of the formation and evolution of comets and the early Solar System.
• Explain how the Rosetta mission's observations of the comet's nucleus, coma, and tail contributed to our understanding of cometary science.
  • The Rosetta mission provided the first up-close observations of a comet's nucleus, coma, and tail, allowing scientists to study the physical and chemical composition of these key comet features. By analyzing the data collected on the comet's activity, outgassing, and the interaction between the coma and solar wind, the Rosetta mission has significantly advanced our knowledge of the complex processes that drive the formation and evolution of comets, which are considered to be remnants of the early Solar System.
• Discuss the significance of the Rosetta mission's findings in the context of our understanding of the formation and evolution of the Solar System.
  • The Rosetta mission's observations and discoveries have provided valuable insights into the composition and behavior of comets, which are believed to be remnants from the early stages of the Solar System's formation. By studying the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in detail, the mission has helped scientists better understand the role of comets in the formation and evolution of the Solar System, as well as the processes that shaped the early planetary bodies. The mission's findings have the potential to shed light on the origins of water and other volatile compounds on Earth, and may even provide clues about the conditions that led to the emergence of life in the Solar System.

Related terms

Comet Nucleus: The solid, central part of a comet, composed of ice, dust, and rocky material, which forms the characteristic 'head' of the comet.

Coma: The cloud of dust and gas that surrounds the nucleus of a comet, forming the 'head' of the comet as it is heated by the Sun.

Comet Tail: The long, luminous stream of dust and gas that extends from the coma of a comet, driven away from the nucleus by the solar wind and radiation pressure.