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Rosetta (spacecraft) facts for kids

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Rosetta
Rosetta spacecraft
Artist's illustration of Rosetta
Mission type Comet orbiter/lander
Operator ESA
Mission duration Final: 12 years, 6 months, 28 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Astrium
Launch mass Orbiter: 2,900 kg (6,400 lb)
Lander: 100 kg (220 lb)
Dry mass Orbiter: 1,230 kg (2,710 lb)
Payload mass Orbiter: 165 kg (364 lb)
Lander: 27 kg (60 lb)
Dimensions 2.8 × 2.1 × 2 m (9.2 × 6.9 × 6.6 ft)
Power 850 watts at 3.4 AU
Start of mission
Launch date 2 March 2004, 07:17:51 (2004-03-02UTC07:17:51) UTC
Rocket Ariane 5G+ V-158
Launch site Kourou ELA-3
Contractor Arianespace
End of mission
Disposal Deorbited
Last contact 30 September 2016, 10:39:28 (2016-09-30UTC10:39:29) UTC SCET
Landing site Sais, Ma'at region
2 years, 55 days of operations at the comet
Flyby of Mars
Closest approach 25 February 2007
Distance 250 km (160 mi)
Flyby of 2867 Šteins
Closest approach 5 September 2008
Distance 800 km (500 mi)
Flyby of 21 Lutetia
Closest approach 10 July 2010
Distance 3,162 km (1,965 mi)
67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko orbiter
Orbital insertion 6 August 2014, 09:06 UTC
Orbit parameters
Periapsis 29 km (18 mi)
Horizon 2000
← INTEGRAL
Herschel →

Rosetta was an ESA space probe. It went on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The Rosetta mission had two parts: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket. On 12 November 2014 Philae landed but soon lost electrical power and radio contact. Rosetta continued to examine the comet from orbit until 30 September 2016 when it landed.


Images for kids

  • 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko - Rosetta (32755885495)

    Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko in March 2015 as imaged by Rosetta

  • Rosetta and Philae at comet (11206660686)

    Illustration of Rosetta and Philae at the comet

  • Animation of Rosetta trajectory

    Animation of Rosetta's trajectory from 2 March 2004 to 9 September 2016       Rosetta ·       67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko ·       Earth ·       Mars ·       21 Lutetia ·       2867 Šteins

  • Rosetta 111106

    Trajectory of the Rosetta space probe

  • Signal received from Rosetta (12055070794)

    Rosetta's signal received at ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, on 20 January 2014

  • Crescent Earth from Rosetta

    Earth from Rosetta during final flyby

  • Animation of Rosetta trajectory around 67P

    Animation of Rosetta's trajectory around 67P from 1 August 2014 to 31 March 2015       Rosetta ·       67P

  • Rosetta and Philae (crop)

    Rosetta and Philae

  • Comet 67P on 31 January 2015 - NAVCAM

    The comet in January 2015 as seen by Rosetta's NAVCAM

  • Rosetta Instrument Inventory

    Rosetta instrument inventory

  • Rosetta and Philae cartoon

    Cartoon versions of Rosetta and Philae as they appear in the ESA's Once upon a time... series.

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