Rosetta mission proves to be a grand success
York professor Paul Delaney comments on the Rosetta mission, giving insight into the importance of this scientific marvel
The Rosetta mission of the European Space Agency has made it, landing successfully on Comet 67P.
The Rosetta spacecraft deployed the
Philae lander on Comet 67P on November 12. Philae is the small orbital
spacecraft carried by Rosetta.
This marks the first successful landing on a comet by a man-made craft. The ESA first launched Rosetta in 2004.
“It chased the comet down and Rosetta
itself has gone into orbit around the nucleus of this comet,” says Paul
Delaney, senior lecturer of physics and astronomy professor at York.
“Rosetta is designed to monitor this nucleolus as it literally wakes up from its deep cold sleep.”
He says many aspects of the comet’s
anatomy will be analyzed. These include items such as the comet’s plasma
and magnetic field environments, and surface condition.
Delaney says the importance of studying the comet is beyond trying to understand the universe as a whole.continue reading...
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