Rosetta is ready for rendezvous – RTVE

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mission will approach the comet, on which land in November to release the Philae probe. AFP

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Rosetta mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will get one of his milestones on Wednesday, at 9:00 am GMT (11: 00h, Spanish GMT), when the probe reaches its closest approach to the comet chasing for a decade. A historic moment for the ESA, which has named this time as the ‘rendez-vous’ (the appointment or meeting, in French).

This space odyssey ten years and 6,400 million miles by the solar system (about forty times the distance from Earth to the Sun) and will reach a turning point when Rosetta is made up of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and then continue their journey together at a rate of 55,000 km / h and land on this rock the month of November.

If everything occurs as planned, Rosetta became the first probe to orbit a comet .

“For the first time we will meet a comet first we will escort a comet passing near the Sun and for the first time, we will implement a lander, “said the head of the mission, Matt Taylor. “The meeting this week is therefore a key milestone in the mission,” he added.

Rosetta took off in March 2004 to star in a long journey through the solar system in which has remained in hibernate a total of 957 days. Another record of this space initiative. Now is one of the most delicate moments of the mission, the operation meeting, which consists of 10 different exercises , which began in early May and conclude on Wednesday.

“It’s a challenge because it has never done before. Other missions to comets have been overflights at high speed about 100 miles or more away,” he explained Taylor.

As reported by the ESA it the ship this week placed 30 kilometers Rock , from September to October and 20 kilometers to 10 kilometers. At this time of approaching 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Rosetta will obtain data on the composition, density and gravity of the comet , so that scientists know “what they will find.”

The complicated process of landing

Similarly, draw maps of the area to determine what their characteristics are and what the best place to carry out the landing.

comets have little gravity and that makes any ‘visitor’ is set in the area without bouncing; therefore you have to choose very well the exact point and time for anchoring, and therefore know very well the comet as attempt in recent months.

In this regard, the scientific coordinator of operations Rosetta, Laurence O’Rourke, has indicated that this month five possible sites which will become two in the second approximation in September and October, a month before the operation, it will be selected will determine the right place.

The great challenge of the mission will be in November when the Philae module, with a mass of 110 kilograms, throw two harpoons to anchor on the surface of comet, becoming the first satellite to fall upon one of these heavenly bodies.

“No it will depend only on background because the surface of comets suffers explosions and should be taken into account where there good to study aspects.’s why this work is done jointly between scientists and engineers, because they have the technical aspects, but also research, “said O’Rourke.

probe analyze the comet

There will be the Rosetta itself that pose on the rock, but it will be said that doeth module Philae. After his expulsion, Rosetta will be at 30 kilometers. In fact, as the comet gets closer to the Sun, the spacecraft will increase your distance until 40-45 miles.

This is because, in the heat, the loose kite more gases when approaching the star, which makes it more difficult study from short distances.

Rosetta has already taken the temperature of the comet and has sent the first images of their destination, they have surprised scientists, as expected not the comet had pursued a “double nucleus” as disclosed.

From this day 6 images from as close to the surface of comet positions will be much more detailed and will give access to more accurate data on its shape and structure, just as in his day the Rosetta stone that gives name to this mission served to reveal Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Science Week “gorgeous”

The probe will land in November on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its mission will remain there to provide data. Its instruments, contains a drill that will pierce the comet and study its composition in situ.

The intent of the ESA is that this device be active at least one week ” but if it lasts longer be great. ” “Although a week is a week of wonderful science,” he pointed O’Rourke.

project may yield answers about the origin of life on Earth

Philae data are placed many scientific objectives of this mission. Another mission coordinators, Michael Kueppers, has indicated that this project could yield answers to whether the theory that life came to Earth through these rocks is true.

“Comets have about our origins and are equal to the block 4,000 million years ago formed the planets,” said.

Still, it has been determined that this belief does not mean that microbial molecules all come from comets, but in combination with existing on Earth, eventually got what exists today.

As for theories that water came to Earth from comets , Kueppers pointed out that the Rosetta mission will also allow you to compare the water is known to contain the water in Earth’s oceans and check for differences.