[UPDATE 10:03]
Philae lander separated from Rosetta. It seems that the system is not working gas, which at the time of landing is pressed against Philae to the surface. If you do not start, the probe will have to rely only on the harpoon ramming into the ground.
MUPUS confirmed its action.
The maneuver Rosetta will leave that up to 11:58 there is no contact with Philae.
Mission step-by-step
Rosetta was launched March 2, 2004. Home was to be held January 12, 2003 year, but during the previous mission has been a failure Ariane 5 and all we had to move. Originally planned to fly to comet 46P / Wirtanen, but the delay meant that the target had to be changed.
You have chosen short-term comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, who visits the Sun at about 6.5 years.
To fly to the comet, Rosetta had to disperse properly and achieve orbit extending beyond the orbit of Mars. For this purpose, four assists gravity called gravitational more vividly slings. It is very close (on a cosmic scale) flights in the vicinity of the planets, which allow you to use gravity to accelerate the probe and give it a proper direction. This procedure requires very careful planning route.
Rosetta successively passed:
– Earth 4 March 2005
– Mars 25 February 2007
– Earth November 13, 2007
– asteroid Šteins 5 September 2008
– Earth November 13, 2009
– asteroid Lutetia 10 July 2010
June 8, 2011, she was put into hibernation, which lasted until January 20, 2014 year.
Earlier, the European Space Agency (ESA) organized a campaign “Wake Up Rosetta ” and a contest for the best video accompanying the wake of the probe Rosetta, who won the Pole, Joe Dobrowolski. As a reward, he was invited to the mission control center on the day of landing of Philae.
From May to August this year, a number of maneuvers by which Rosetta approached the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, precipitated speed and 6 August entered its orbit .
began with the circulation of the orbit – because the attraction of the comet is too weak to keep the probe, Rosetta uses thrusters to remain in the vicinity. In August began photographing the kernel, and September 10 – the preparation of accurate maps.
On the basis of their chosen place where Today, November 12 has landed Philae .
The next stages of the mission is to accompany the comet for the end of 2015 – Rosetta has observed increasing activity in the nucleus as it approaches the sun.
In this video shows the milestones mission:
What we know about the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko?
It was discovered in 1969 by the Ukrainian astronomer Klima Czurimowa photographs taken by Svetlana Gerasimenko. It is a short-period comets appear near the Sun for 6.45 years. Its orbit was changed in 1959 by the flyby of Jupiter.
The observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2003 suggested that the kernel is regular, with bulges on both sides. However, as we approach the Rosetta comet turned out that the shape of the nucleus is completely different. Initially it was thought that the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko may be subject to a double. Further observations showed that the nucleus is a single object, but is irregular and can be distinguished in two parts connected by a constriction.
Fig. NASA, ESA and Philippe Lamy (Laboratoire d’Astronomie Spatiale)
July 14 probe sent pictures taken from a distance of about 12 ooo miles that showed rotating nucleus. Clearly the shape that came to be called a rubber duck.
The dimensions of the nucleus is determined by specifying the size for large and small parts:
Fig. ESA
Just look comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko would put it above London:
Fig. Comet: ESA / Rosetta / Navcam; 2014 map Google, Bluesky
The comet rotates in time 12.4 hours, its surface temperature, ranging from -68 ° C to – 43 ° C.
67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko will be closest to the Sun in August 2015 will not be visible from Earth with the naked eye or through amateur telescopes.
Sony Rosetta magnetometer picked up interesting oscillations of the magnetic field of the comet. Processed be increasing oscillation frequency so that it can be presented in the form of sound. This is the song Magnetic Rosetta:
Today, the comet is approximately 475 719 000 km from Earth, light and radio signals need to travel that distance, 28 minutes and 20 seconds.
What are the objectives of the Rosetta mission?
– Global characterization of cometary nuclei: its dynamic properties, composition and surface morphology.
– Examine the chemical composition, mineralogical and isotopic volatiles and solids on the surface of the nucleus.
– Determination of physical properties and relations between the volatiles and the solid nucleus.
– Observation phases of the comet’s activity and processes in the surface layer and the inner core coma (interactions between the gas and dust).
– Global characterization of passing asteroids, including the determination of their dynamic properties, composition and surface morphology (for Wikipedia ).
To achieve this, Rosetta and Philae, scientific instruments carry the following:
OSIRIS – consists of two cameras – one with a wide, second narrow field of view. They have provided images of the comet nucleus, which remarkably resemble Earth’s mountains.
VIRTIS and ALICE is working properly spectrometers in the visible and infrared, and ultraviolet light. Examine the temperature and composition of the nucleus, the gas and dust in the coma and tail of a comet.
MIRO is a spectrometer and a microwave radiometer, which examines the volatiles comets – water, methanol, ammonia.
ROSINA is a two mass spectrometers exploring the atmosphere and ionosphere of the comet and the reactions that occur in them.
COSIMA will conduct an analysis of the composition of cometary dust particles .
MIDAS is a microscope, which carry images of the dust particles with a resolution of 4 nm.
RPC is a set of five instruments that will address the plasma around comets
GIADA This detector, which will determine the physical properties of the dust particles around the comet.
CONSERT will examine the interior of the nucleus using short pulses of radio.
RSI is a communication system by sending signals to Earth will measure the physical properties of the comet’s nucleus and its orbit.
The lander Philae there are 10 additional instruments.
CIVA will make panoramic images of the comet and microscopic photographs of samples taken from the surface
apxs will examine the chemical composition surface at the landing site.
Rolis will be photographing the surface during the descent of the lander.
COSAC will look for organic compounds.
Ptolemy will examine the isotopic composition of light elements on the surface.
SESAME will conduct a probing acoustic space, examine the electrical properties and forfeited to the comet dust falling .
ROMAP will take care of plasma and magnetic field.
CONSERT with your part on the orbiter will examine the interior of the nucleus with short radio pulses.
SD2 wwierci to 23 cm and take the samples for the instruments CIVA, COSAC and Ptolemy.
MUPUS determine mechanical properties and temperature profile of the surface of a comet.
MUPUS was built in the Polish Space Research Centre. Its creator is an engineer Jerzy Grygorczuk. The device consists of a long rod – penetrator having a stick in the ground comets and “hammer” that is, the part that is responsible for potting penetrator. Penetrator is within 16 thermometers that will create a temperature profile of the surface of a comet.
In the photo, which we did in the Space Research Centre, you can see the twin MUPUS – working version that remained on Earth.
Click to enlarge
Close-up shows MUPUS-a hammer and his harpoon, which will delve into the ground comet.
Click here to enlarge
How is the landing of Philae?
The landing takes place on 12 November. European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, where it directs the landing procedure of 2:00 at night, embarking for the Rosetta probe commands for preparing the landing procedure of Philae.
Ok 3:35 Philae confirmed its readiness.
Between 7:35 a 8:35 – the final decision GO / NOGO for landing (ie, initiation or abandonment procedures)
8:49 – turning research instruments Philae – the first was MUPUS.
10:03 – disconnect from Rosetta’s Philae. From the moment the lander falls freely towards the nucleus of the comet. It does not control its own engines, so you can not adjust its flight.
10:04 – Philae doing the first of farewell photos Rosetta
11: 53 – the first to send a signal to Earth from Philae by Rosetta.
Here are the planned landing place of Philae:
ok. 17:02 – the estimated time of landing of Philae.
Fig. ESA / Rosetta / MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS / UPD / LAM / IAA / SSO / INTA / UPM / DASP / IDA
ok. 17:30 – expected to receive an acknowledgment signal to land.
ok. 17:07 Implementation of a panoramic image surrounding the landing site and begin collecting scientific data.
ok. 18:49 Starting first block ongoing research 7 hours. During this time, work will begin to Polish penetrator MUPUS.
In this graphic marked the first 2.5 days of research conducted by Philae. You see, what instruments will be active. Graphics expands when clicked.
Click to enlarge
This short video shows the process of the lander descent, landing and beginning research Philae. At 2:07 you can see the extension of an MUPUS-a.
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