Rosetta

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his report provides an insight into space mission 'Rosetta' which started back in 2004 with a sole aim of studying a comet. This comet commonly known as 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko lies 510 million kilometers away from Earth. This report discusses the basic ideology behind the mission, followed by space probe's 10 year extraoridinary journey in space. Upon reaching the target comet, the space probe began to orbit 67P, and was all set to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever attempted. For two subsequent years, Rosetta made observations about the environment at various cometary activities and gathered data from nucleus of the comet. Some major experiments are discussed in the report. After all this data was recieved and computed, …show more content…

Its aim was to study the Comet's structure and environment in a detailed manner, along with landing a probe on the surface. It was designed to observe the comet at close range as it changes with the Sun’s heat transformations into the luminous apparition that has frightened and inspired people for centuries. This mission was developed by European Space Agency in 1993 and later received contributions from NASA. Rosetta became the first mission in history to rendezvous with a comet, orbit it and deploy a lander to its surface. Rosetta gets its name from the famous Rosetta stone that led to the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphics almost 200 years ago. It was named in the hope that it might unlock mysteries about water and life on Earth. 2.) Ideology Since the very beginning, comets have remained a piece of mystery to people. Many scientists today believe that comets crashed into Earth in its formative period leaving down crucial organic …show more content…

Both instruments detected lots of interesting molecules including methyl isocyanate, acetamide, acetone, and propionaldehyde, that had never been spotted even around a comet before. These amino acids enantiomers are the building blocks of life. One of the most outstanding discoveries of the mission was the detection of large amounts of free molecular oxygen gas (O2) surrounding the comet. The existence of such complex molecules in a comet, a relic of the early Solar System, imply that some parts of prebiotic material on Earth could have come from comet type celestial bodies. 8.) Conclusion Rosetta after being launched in 2004, and completing some manoeuvers reached its target position in 2014. On the course of its journey, Rosetta achieved many historic firsts in space. It completed its task to study the comet and dispatch the landing probe safely on the surface. Rosetta sent all the amazing data and images back to Earth as it kept on orbiting the comet for nearly two years. Scientists were amazed to see all the data. The mission has yielded a significant science return, collecting data from the nucleus as well its environment at various cometary activities. Molecular oxygen gas was detected around the surface and a part of the building blocks of DNA was found in the reports leading to partly prove the assumption of comet having

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