The Rosetta mission continues with the space laboratory that will … – RTVE

VICKY BOLAÑOS

Rosetta scientific part of the mission of the European Space Agency more . So it will be a Although probe Philae , which is hibernating on the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko after have run out of fuel and without receiving sunlight .

Before remain inactive following 57 hours of operation , Philae got sent to Earth data measurements collected comet with five of its ten instruments ESA as reported, the results will be known once the scientists involved in the mission have worked in them.

Although planned to Philae and Rosetta do combined observations aterrizadora the duration of the probe, probe orbiter now continue the mission alone.

Rosetta still active and orbiting the comet . Now is about 30 miles away to early December and will get closer to 67P, reaching 20 kilometers.

maneuvers and orbit in which Rosetta will be from now until December. Picture: ESA

Rosetta Science

As explained RTVE.es the Engineer ESA Science Operations in Madrid, Juan Jose Garcia, Rosetta will observe how it evolves until the comet reaches perihelion Sun , in August 2015.

“As the comet gets closer to the Sun, as it is made up of rocks and ice, the latter begins to sublimate and grains fall off” as well as grow with the gas and steam, he stated.

Illustration of ESA Rosetta probe, with panels measuring 32 meters. Image: ESA / Medialab ATG

Garcia, one of the members of the mission plans and coordinates the use of scientific instruments -the probes ESA center in Madrid is the responsibly, It has been told that Rosetta is a laboratory that carries instruments with small microscopes, for example: “It’s a wonder built ten years ago”

“With technology almost 20 years we are making history. because scientists are given the opportunity to make observations and experiments “, he noted.

Rosetta analyze the dust ejection from the comet

For example, as the comet dust particles will drop, Rosetta analyze how fast moving and chemical composition . Other instruments look the magnetic field that surrounds the comet, if any.

The engineer said the ESA orbiter probe “probably withdraw 100 km to be in a safe place and avoid possible impact of stones in their solar panels 32 meters “.

ESA will try to not impact on solar panels stones probe

The mission duration is checked, therefore, by the activity of the comet and the combustibe that fits for maneuvers. When it launched in 2004, the spacecraft weighed nearly three tons, more than the fuel in half, which has been consuming though it has been two and a half years in hibernation to save power.

Philae: what could be

As revealed different ESA management, there is a possibility of Philae could return to work. As the comet gets closer to perihelion the Sun, if it receives enough solar energy, could be reactivated only in the unlikely event that dust and stones have no 67P covered solar cells .

If activated again, both probes could make joint experiments for which they were prepared.

As noted Eduardo Sanchez Suarez, Department of Exploration Robotics & Scientific ESA Philae is a set of small observatories and is ready for take dust samples, make ultraviolet spectrometry , Infrared , take pictures of the comet in different lighting conditions, etc.

Also, wearing tools Radio to interact with the orbiter and “draw very interesting conclusions” field of the comet through the interaction between the two craft .

The eleven instruments Rosetta

These are the eleven instruments that leads incorporated the Rosetta orbiter. Each is coordinated by scientists from participating countries (Source: ESA).

• Alice (spectrometer ultraviolet image) analyzed the gases in the coma and the comet tail and measured production rates of water and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It also provides information on the composition of the core surface
• CONSERT ( Experiment probing the comet nucleus by transmitting radio waves). Polls . the interior of the comet through the study of radio waves that are reflected and scattered by the nucleus
• COSIMA (Analyzer secondary ion mass) analyzes the characteristics of dust grains emitted by the comet, including its composition. Determines whether they are organic or inorganic
• Giada (Impact Analyzer grains and dust accumulator.): Measures the number, mass, momentum and velocity distribution of the dust grains coming from the comet nucleus and other sources
• MIDAS ( Dust Analysis System for micro-images ). study the dust environment surrounding asteroids and comets. Provides information on the particles, such as size, volume and shape
• LOOK (Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter). Is used to determine the abundance of the main gas outgassing rate of the surface and subsurface core temperature
• OSIRIS (Remote System optical and infrared images espectrópicas). has a wide-angle camera narrow angle camera that can obtain high resolution images of the comet’s nucleus
• Rosina ( Spectrometer for the neutral and ion analysis.): Two sensors that determine the composition of the atmosphere and ionosphere of the comet speed electrified gas particles and reactions involved. We also investigate possible asteroid outgassing
• RPC (Rosetta Plasma Consortium). Five sensors measure the physical properties of the core, examine the structure of the inner coma, monitor activity and studying the interaction of the comet with the solar wind
• RSI (radio science research). frequency changes in the radio signals from the probe are used to measure the mass and gravity of the comet nucleus to derive its density and internal structure, define the orbit and study its inner coma.
• VIRTIS (imaging spectrometer thermal infrared and visible): maps and studies the nature and temperature solid on the core surface. It also identifies the comet gases, characterizes the physical conditions of the colon and has helped to identify the best places for landing.