The Rosetta probe will meet Wednesday with the comet on the … – 20minutos.es

Rosetta probe will meet Wednesday with the comet on which you touch down in November

Rosetta probe of the European Space Agency (ESA) will be on Wednesday – after 10 years of space travel – the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko the rock on which he will pose the next November. If everything occurs as planned, Rosetta became the first probe to orbit a comet.

For the first time we will meet a kite

“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 across the Solar System in which he has been a total of 957 days in hibernation. Another record of this space initiative. Now is one of the most delicate moments of the mission, operation meeting, which consists of 10 different maneuvers, 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.

The Landing

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

Similarly, draw maps of the surface to determine their characteristics and what will be the best place to carry out the landing.

depend not only be flat, because the surface of comets suffers explosions

In this regard, the coordinator Rosetta science operations, Laurence O’Rourke, stated this month will select 5 places that will become 2 in the second approach in September and in October, a month before the operation, determine which is the right place.

“No it depends only on background because he the surface of comets suffers explosions and must be taken into account where there are good aspects to consider. So this work is done jointly between scientists and engineers, because they have the technical aspects, but also research, “said O’Rourke.

not be the Rosetta itself that pose on the rock, but will be carrying the probe, Philae, who does it. T ras expulsion, Rosetta will be at 30 kilometers. Indeed, as the comet gets closer to the Sun, the ship will increase its distance to 40-45 kilometers. This is because, as the comet is near the star is releasing more gases, due to heat, which makes it more difficult to study from a short distance.

response about how life on Earth

came

As for the probe, the expert noted that in November will land on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and its mission will remain there to provide data. Among its instruments contains a drill that will pierce the comet and study its composition in situ. The purpose of the ESA is that this device be active at least one week “even if it lasts more will be great. ” “Although a week is a week of wonderful science,” he pointed O’Rourke.

The data are set Philae many scientific objectives of this mission. Another mission coordinators, Michael Kueppers, stated 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 is equal to the block 4,000 million years ago formed the planets,” said.

Still, it has been determined that this belief not mean that microbial molecules all come from comets, but in combination with existing on Earth, eventually got what exists today. As for theories about the water reached the planet from comets, Kueppers pointed out that the Rosetta mission will also allow you to compare the water is known to contain water in Earth’s oceans and check for differences.

Large Spanish participation

The role of industry and Spanish scientists are key to the Rosetta mission. The participating companies are SenerR Space and scientific institutions as Astrophysical Institute of Andalucia (IAA), the CSIC, INTA and UPM.

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

Comets have gravity and that just makes the retention any visitor to look at the surface without bouncing or escape;. this requires choose the point very well and accurate time for anchoring, and therefore know very well the comet as attempt in recent months. Not knowing exactly the kind of nature of the comet’s surface, harpoons were made “under assumptions”, without being able to guarantee with certainty how they will react when they are released, as Diego Rodríguez, director Sener.

A Spanish company is essential for the anchoring system to the surface of the comet

Your company has provided the project two drop masts, fifteen blind active thermal control and electronics unit control Giada whole instrument.

Also, optical screens radiation attenuation incident on the two navigation cameras and two star trackers in addition to the driver filter wheel of the NAC and WAC cameras Osiris instrument, among other components.

they Other Spanish companies in the project are: Crisa, with several teams, including the electronics unit star browser navigation camera; Deimos Space, which has defined the path to the destination; Airbus Defence and Space, who has been involved in the manufacture of antennas for communication with the ship, or GMV, immersed in the setting of the probe path and navigation aspects, among other tasks.

also Thales Alenia Space Spain with: the Solar Array Drive Electronics (SADE), to control the orientation of solar panels ; Avionics Interface Unit (AIU), to connect the computer probe equipment that guarantee positioning; the Remote Terminal Unit (RTU); the Radiofrequency Distribution Unit (RFDU) and Wave Interface Unit (WIU).

Meanwhile, Alter Technology TÜV Nord provides centralized provisioning and testing of electronic components, and Rymsa Space feeder X band antenna reflector type.