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Comet-Chaser Rosetta Ready For Launch

Posted by timothy on from the we-need-ice-cubes dept.

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."

1 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. I hope it has lots of cameras on it by glen604 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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