Comet-Chaser Rosetta Ready For Launch

Karl Kennedy writes "Europe's Rosetta space mission, which aims to chase and then land on a comet, is standing by for lift-off in French Guiana. Once up in space, Rosetta will be placed in orbit around Earth before departing for the outer Solar System. In 2014, Rosetta will reach the comet and deliver a lander to its surface. The probe will perform three close fly-bys of the Earth and one of Mars in "slingshot" manoeuvres that will use the planets' gravity to help the probe build up speed."

Comments

I hope it has lots of cameras on it

[glen604]

If it's flying around the solar system for 10 years until it meets it's comet destiny, it should make a pretty interesting interim astronomy platform. Then if it somehow crashes into the comet or dies en route it won't be a wasted mission.

10 years is an awfully long time- lots of stuff could go wrong

Re:Orbit animation here...

[snake_dad]

True... But there is a reason that Rosetta intercepts the comet on the outermost point of it's orbit. Because the comet is so far away from the sun it is not yet ejecting gas and particles, that happens when the comet nears the sun and heats up. That's when the famous tail(s) of comets start to appear. The really interesting part of this mission is that we'll see this process of heating up from very close up, from start to finish (if Rosetta lives that long).

No, no

[Walkiry]

You're missing the important point of how humans define intelligence. Why is a dog intelligent? Because you can teach him to follow orders, and the more orders (or more complex) orders he can follow, the smarter it is considered.

Makes you wonder doesn't it ;)