Rosetta flyby uncovers the complex history of asteroid Lutetia 29 May 2012 The long and tumultuous history of asteroid (21) Lutetia is revealed by a comprehensive analysis of the data gathered by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft when it flew past this large main-belt asteroid on 10 July 2010. Read more
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The International Rosetta Mission was approved in November 1993 by ESA's Science Programme Committee as the Planetary Cornerstone Mission in ESA's long-term space science programme. The mission goal was originally set for a rendezvous with comet 46 P/Wirtanen. After postponement of the initial launch a new target was set: Comet 67 P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko. On its 10 year journey to the comet, the spacecraft has passed by two asteroids: 2867 Steins (in 2008) and 21 Lutetia (in 2010).
Latest News
Rosetta reveals mysterious Lutetia 27 October 2011 On 10 July 2010, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft flew past asteroid Lutetia, one of the largest objects orbiting within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Rosetta's encounter revealed an intriguing object which has survived since the birth of the planets. Read more
Hubble and Rosetta unmask nature of recent asteroid wreck 13 October 2010 High-resolution images from the Hubble Space Telescope and a rare view obtained, from a unique perspective, by the Rosetta spacecraft provide a comprehensive picture of P/2010 A2, a puzzling body in the asteroid main belt. Read more
Latest Status Reports
No. 158 - Spin-up and entry into deep-space hibernation 30 June 2011 This report covers nine days of Rosetta mission operations: 6 to 14 June 2011. The main activities were the spin-up of the spacecraft and entry into deep-space hibernation mode. The spacecraft will remain in this state until 20 January 2014 when the hibernation exit sequence will be initiated. The next Rosetta status report will be issued towards the end of January 2014. Read more
No. 157 - Final preparations for hibernation 22 June 2011 This report covers 21 days of Rosetta mission operations: 16 May to 5 June 2011. The main activities were devoted to preparing the spacecraft for the deep-space hibernation phase. Read more
No. 156 - Preparations for deep-space hibernation phase 31 May 2011 This report covers 28 days of Rosetta mission operations: 18 April to 15 May 2011. The main activities were further preparations for the deep space hibernation phase. Read more
