Rosetta Comet Rendezvous Postponed

Hobnut writes "This space-scoop on the BBC reveals that the Rosetta mission has been cancelled. Well.. for now at least. It looks as if we'll have to wait indefinitely before we can do comet-surface science with the Euro-Space agency. I wonder if this has anything to do with last month's Ariane 5 explosion (ESAs launch vehicle) , which will surely go down in history as one the worlds most expensive fireworks. Let's hope the mission is back on soon."

Comments

Other reasons for Rosetta postponement

[barakn]

The Rosetta launch would have required the rocket to enter Earth orbit and then re-fire (a.k.a. a ballistic coast phase). This would have been the first time this maneuver was attempted with an Ariane 5. This particular Ariane 5 also had significant changes made to its equipment bay and electrical system. (paraphrasing from this linkand other sources)

Not the most expensive fireworks

[WolfWithoutAClause]

Space shuttle was way more expensive, both in monetary as well as human terms; atleast if you stick to aerospace.

And if you count wartime, do nuclear weapons count?

Not really...

[Tuxinatorium]

"I wonder if this has anything to do with last month's Ariane 5 explosion (ESAs launch vehicle) , which will surely go down in history as one the worlds most expensive fireworks. Let's hope the mission is back on soon."

Actually, the challenger space shuttle, Apollo 1, Apollo 13, and the first 5 (failed) mercury missions were all more expensive than an Ariane 5.

Re:Yes

[uncoveror]

They knew better than to lauch Rosetta after what happened to Contour. The aliens would just blow it up, too.