# Rosetta

> robotic space probe which orbited comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

**Wikidata**: [Q48572](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48572)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rosetta

## Summary
Rosetta is a robotic space probe operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), primarily designed to explore comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Launched on March 2, 2004, it successfully orbited the comet for over two years and deployed the Philae lander before concluding its mission with a controlled impact on September 30, 2016.

## Key Facts
- Rosetta is classified as a comet probe.
- It was operated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
- The probe was launched on March 2, 2004, by an Ariane 5G+ rocket from ELA-3.
- Its primary destination was comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
- Rosetta carried the Philae lander as a key component of its mission.
- The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 3000 kilograms.
- Its mission concluded with a controlled hard landing on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on September 30, 2016.
- The probe utilized ESA's MA31750 16-bit processor.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary mission of Rosetta?
A: Rosetta's primary mission was to orbit and extensively study comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. It was designed as a comet probe to gather data on the comet's composition, environment, and evolution.

### Q: When was Rosetta launched and by whom?
A: Rosetta was launched on March 2, 2004, at 07:17:51 UTC. It was operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and launched aboard an Ariane 5G+ vehicle.

### Q: What was the ultimate fate of the Rosetta probe?
A: The Rosetta mission concluded on September 30, 2016, with a controlled hard landing on its destination, comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. This event marked its spacecraft retirement, caused by passivation and orbital decay.

## Why It Matters
Rosetta's mission holds significant importance for planetary science and space exploration. By becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet for an extended period and deploying a lander onto its surface, Rosetta provided unprecedented insights into these primordial celestial bodies. Comets are considered time capsules from the early solar system, and Rosetta's detailed observations of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko offered crucial data on the conditions and materials present during planetary formation. The scientific instruments onboard, such as the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System, Alice, CONSERT, and Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System, collected a wealth of information on the comet's nucleus, coma, and plasma environment. This data has advanced our understanding of cometary activity, the origin of water and organic molecules in the solar system, and potentially the delivery of these elements to early Earth. Rosetta's successful navigation and operational longevity in a challenging cometary environment also pushed the boundaries of robotic mission capabilities, demonstrating advanced engineering and scientific prowess.

## Notable For
- Successfully orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko for over two years, providing long-term observations.
- Deploying the Philae lander onto the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, marking a significant achievement in cometary exploration.
- Carrying a comprehensive suite of scientific instruments, including the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System, Alice, CONSERT, and Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System, for detailed comet analysis.
- Concluding its mission with a controlled hard landing on its destination comet, providing final close-up data.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Rosetta is a robotic space probe, classified as a comet probe, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its primary destination was comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The mission was part of the Horizon 2000 program.

### Launch and Trajectory
Rosetta was launched on March 2, 2004, at 07:17:51 UTC. The launch vehicle was an Ariane 5G+ (V158), launched from ELA-3. Arianespace served as the launch contractor. During its journey, Rosetta performed several significant flyby events:
-   Mars: February 25, 2007, at a distance of 250 kilometres.
-   2867 Šteins: September 5, 2008, at 800 kilometres.
-   Q107556 (Lutetia): July 10, 2010, at 3162 kilometres.

### Spacecraft Specifications
Rosetta had a takeoff mass of 3000 kilograms. Its physical dimensions were 2.1 metres in width, 2 metres in height, and 2.8 metres in length. The probe's nominal power output was 850 watts. It was manufactured by Astrium and utilized ESA's MA31750 16-bit processor.

### Mission Operations and Conclusion
Orbit insertion around comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko occurred on August 6, 2014, establishing a periapsis of 29 kilometres. Orbital activity around the comet commenced on the same date. The Philae lander, a component of Rosetta, successfully performed a soft landing on Abydos, a site on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, on November 12, 2014. The Rosetta mission concluded with its spacecraft retirement on September 30, 2016, via a controlled hard landing on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko at 10:39:28 UTC. The cause of destruction was passivation and orbital decay.

### Scientific Instruments
Rosetta carried a suite of scientific instruments to study the comet, including:
-   Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System
-   Alice
-   CONSERT
-   Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System

### Identifiers and Aliases
Rosetta is known by several aliases, including Rosetta space probe, Sonde Rosetta, and ロゼッタ. Key identifiers for the probe include:
-   COSPAR ID: 2004-006A
-   NSSDCA ID: 2004-006A
-   NAIF ID: -226
-   GND ID: 4706601-5
-   SCN: 28169

### Related Entities
Rosetta is classified as a comet probe. It was launched by an Ariane 5G+ vehicle and incorporated the MA31750 processor.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [No. 1 - Rosetta in Good Health - Rosetta - Science Portal](https://sci.esa.int/web/rosetta/-/34797-rosetta-status-report-no-1/)
3. [https://x.com/esaoperations/status/781816617097392129/photo/1/](https://x.com/esaoperations/status/781816617097392129/photo/1/)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Rosetta_timeline_countdown_to_comet_arrival)
6. BBC Things
7. [Rosetta, running on ESA's MA31750 chip](https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2012/12/Rosetta_running_on_ESA_s_MA31750_chip/)
8. [NAIF Integer ID codes](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)
9. Quora