Robot Technology for the Cometary Landing Mission Rosetta
Publication date: 02 May 1997
Authors: Mugnuolo, R., Pozzi, E. & Fenzi, M.
Journal: ESA Preparing for the Future
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Year: 1997
Copyright: ESA
Rosetta is an ESA cornerstone science mission to study, in situ, the environment of cometary nuclei and their evolution in the inner solar system. The main scientific objectives of the mission are to investigate the origin of the solar system by studying the origins of comets and to study the relationship between cometary and interstellar material. To enhance the scientific capabilities of the mission, the orbiter spacecraft will carry one probe, a lander which will land on the comet surface of the comet and perform investigations in situ. The Rosetta orbiter spacecraft will be launched in 2003 and, after a 9-year cruise, will begin the cometary close observation phase. By 2012 the in situ investigations will be complete. The lander is being developed by combined effort in Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Finland and Austria.
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