Rosetta (spacecraft) facts for kids
Artist's illustration of Rosetta
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Mission type | Comet orbiter/lander |
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Operator | ESA |
Mission duration | Final: 12 years, 6 months, 28 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | Astrium |
Launch mass | Orbiter: 2,900 kg (6,400 lb) Lander: 100 kg (220 lb) |
Dry mass | Orbiter: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb) |
Payload mass | Orbiter: 165 kg (364 lb) Lander: 27 kg (60 lb) |
Dimensions | 2.8 × 2.1 × 2 m (9.2 × 6.9 × 6.6 ft) |
Power | 850 watts at 3.4 AU |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2 March 2004, 07:17:51UTC |
Rocket | Ariane 5G+ V-158 |
Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Deorbited |
Last contact | 30 September 2016, 10:39:28UTC SCET |
Landing site | Sais, Ma'at region 2 years, 55 days of operations at the comet |
Flyby of Mars | |
Closest approach | 25 February 2007 |
Distance | 250 km (160 mi) |
Flyby of 2867 Šteins | |
Closest approach | 5 September 2008 |
Distance | 800 km (500 mi) |
Flyby of 21 Lutetia | |
Closest approach | 10 July 2010 |
Distance | 3,162 km (1,965 mi) |
67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko orbiter | |
Orbital insertion | 6 August 2014, 09:06 UTC |
Orbit parameters | |
Periapsis | 29 km (18 mi) |
Horizon 2000
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Rosetta was an ESA space probe. It went on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The Rosetta mission had two parts: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket. On 12 November 2014 Philae landed but soon lost electrical power and radio contact. Rosetta continued to examine the comet from orbit until 30 September 2016 when it landed.
Images for kids
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Rosetta's signal received at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, on 20 January 2014
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Cartoon versions of Rosetta and Philae as they appear in the ESA's Once upon a time... series.
See also
In Spanish: Rosetta (sonda espacial) para niños
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Rosetta (spacecraft) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.