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ESA's Rosetta Probe Passed 1st Test

Posted by Hemos on from the collecting-the-data dept.

be_stress writes "The BBC are reporting that ESA's Rosetta Probe has passed the first phase of its mission. It has currently made observations of Comet C/2002 T7. This is just the first part of a much bigger mission to intercept Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and release a probe to study the chemistry of the comet. The Rosetta probe will enter a quiet 'cruise-mode' until September, when th second stage of commissioning will commence."

25 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Did they lower the bar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The BBC are reporting that ESA's Rossetta Probe has passed the first phase of it's mission.

    After the Beagle debacle, is it safe to assume that phase one was "don't splatter the craft across the surface of what it's supposed to be studying?"

    1. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ask again when NASA has completed phase one for the next generation space shuttle. Which should be "make sure the crew gets back on earth in one piece."

    2. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Interesting that the post alluidng to failings of the US space program gets a troll rating and the post alluding to failings of the British one doesn't. I guess expecting unbiased moderators would be a bit much.

    3. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Really the Beagle debacle was a ESA fiasco but only in the Public Relations department. Beagle was not a ESA project, it was a english project that the ESA accept to transport to Mars. A big mistake in my opinion, because the people (like the parent post) now associate Beagle with ESA.

      Well, I suppose they have learnt the lesson.

    4. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Funny and all, but it conveniently forgets that ESA's Mars Mission, the Mars Express orbiter, made it into orbit around Mars without a hitch and is currently returning some stunning science data (and pretty pictures). There was the under-funded, built at the last minute Beagle along for the ride but that wasn't a ESA project as such. ESA's space probes don't have a habit of splattering themselves into anything.

    5. Re:Did they lower the bar? by amelagar · · Score: 1

      ESA was helping NASA develop the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle, and doing a fair part of the work too, until George W. Bush cancelled X-38 and all results, including ESA-owned research models, ahem, "disappeared".

      And that's *not* a conspiracy rumour.

    6. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Jugalator · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Are you still living in the cold war, thinking everything in space is a competition?

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    7. Re:Did they lower the bar? by ThisIsFred · · Score: 1

      Give it time, and hopefully it will be properly moderated. If not, then I'll be certain to metamoderate if given the opportunity.

      --
      Fred

      "A fool and his freedom are soon parted"
      -RMS
    8. Re:Did they lower the bar? by titusjan · · Score: 1

      Indeed, space is big business. There is no competion involved.

    9. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      So how do you explain that NASA and ESA cooperate then? I could give you countless articles about it.

      Let's pick an example... Hubble itself is one huge NASA / ESA joint project. And what does the I in ISS stand for again? But maybe such small matters don't count for you? :-)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    10. Re:Did they lower the bar? by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      One more thing, I hope this cooperation will continue, as space is such a high cost / high risk business at least with our current technology, that for us to be truly successful in exploring it, I think international cooperation is not only beneficial, but necessary.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  2. "Rossetta"? by Tar-Palantir · · Score: 5, Informative

    Editors, please... the name of the probe is "Rosetta" (as in the famous stone).

    1. Re:"Rossetta"? by WormholeFiend · · Score: 4, Funny

      obviously, in true Slashdotter tradition, the poster didnt even RTFA he linked to...

    2. Re:"Rossetta"? by novakane007 · · Score: 1

      "th second stage of commissioning will commence"

      I believe he meant "the" second stage... The editors don't correct simple mistakes like this?

      --

      WURD!!
    3. Re:"Rossetta"? by mindriot · · Score: 2, Informative

      Some interesting, more detailed information about Rosetta's activities can be found on the Lander Control Center's page. An overview of the commissioning activities is also available. It's a bit terse and sometimes not really up-to-date, but you can see some technical details. For your information, from the latter page on the commissioning activities:

      • Block 1: Main Subsystems. 12.03. - 17.03.2004
      • Block 2: Remaining subsystems and Experiments on HPC / CIU main. 09.04. - 15.04.2004
      • Block 3: Remaining subsystems and Experiments on LPC / CIU red.; Lander internal interference tests; Consert Instrument Clock Drift Correction. 16.05. - 25.05.2004
      • Block 4: Lander unit combined operation; Lander/Orbiter CONSERT Solar Panel Influence (Pointing Scenario). 03.10. - 05.10.2004
      • Block 5: Romap listening to RPC test on Orbiter level (Interference Scenario). 19.10. - 27.10.2004
      • Block 6: Lander cruise preparation. 27.10. - 28.10.2004

      So I assume we're between Block 3 and Block 4 now.

  3. Those damned Earthlings and their music! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    The Rossetta probe will enter a quiet 'cruise-mode' until september when th second stage of commissioning will commence.


    At which point it will engage hydraulics and crank the stereo up to annoy the neighbors.
  4. Yikes! Heavy Traffic! by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Initially it sounded like the probe was in comet rush-hour traffic: making observations of one comet, zipping over to another one to get samples... However I relaxed when I saw that it was making observations from 95 million km away. (The Moon is roughly 380,000 km away.)

    Cancel that call to Bruce Willis!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  5. comet linear? by hkfczrqj · · Score: 5, Informative

    It has currently made observations of Comet C/2002 T7, or Comet Linear.

    It's not THE Comet Linear, it's just another comet found with the LINEAR research program.

  6. In related News... by k4_pacific · · Score: 2, Funny

    Representative from the planet Pantopia announced today that writings on the Rosetta Probe have given them enough information to effectively decipher the Roman alphabet.

    --
    Unknown host pong.
    1. Re:In related News... by nule.org · · Score: 1

      I for one would like to welcome our new Pantopian overlords.

  7. Observation is for wimps, let's blow it up! by GPLDAN · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Deep Impact project is going to fly alongside a comet, and shoot at it, making parts break off for further observation. It's the first drive-by shooting in space.

    1. Re:Observation is for wimps, let's blow it up! by johannesg · · Score: 1

      Rosetta will actually harpoon its comet. The less well-publicized last phase is to haul the captured comet back to Earth, where it will be cut up and eaten by "scientific experts" across the world...

  8. Re:Grammar by HeghmoH · · Score: 4, Informative

    In British English, companies are considered to be plural; you're talking about many people, even though they are contained within a single organization. So in the US you say something like, "Apple is dying", in the UK you'd say "Apple are dying". No grammar problem.

    --
    Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
  9. e by caryw · · Score: 1

    editors do the man a little favor?

  10. Re:Grammar by gotih · · Score: 1

    interesting, in america corporations get the same rights (sometimes more) as an individual. freedom of speech has let advertisers off the hook for many misleading ads.

    --

    fear is the mind killer