Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005hia....13..743s&link_type=abstract
Highlights of Astronomy, Vol. 13, as presented at the XXVth General Assembly of the IAU - 2003 [Sydney, Australia, 13 - 26 July
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Rosetta ESA's planetary cornerstone is a rendezvous mission with a comet combining an Orbiter with a Lander. It was planned to be launched in January 2003 on its journey to the prime target comet 46P/Wirtanen. As the launch was delayed owing to problems with the launch vehicle alternative mission opportunities had to be identified. One of them is a rendezvous with 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko which is like 46P/Wirtanen a Jupiter-family comet. However both comets may be quite different in their basic properties such as nucleus size rotation and surface activity. These properties therefore need to be determined to ensure that a rendezvous and landing on the nucleus of a comet different from 46P/Wirtanen will be successful. Rosetta will go in orbit around the nucleus when its is still far from the Sun and accompany the comet along its way to perihelion while the 11 instruments will monitor its evolution along the orbit. As the design of scientific instruments was optimized to the characteristics of 46P/Wirtanen an alternative target comet has to have a similar level of activity for an optimal scientific return. An overview of the mission will be given and the properties of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimanko will be reviewed and compared to 46P/Wirtanen.
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