Rosetta spacecraft arrives at comet
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028148
New York Times : Earlier today the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe became the first ever to enter into orbit around a comet. Its arrival marked the end of a 10-year, 6-billion-kilometer odyssey to connect with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The trip included three flybys of Earth and one of Mars, which served as gravitational slingshots to get Rosetta up to speed and put it on the same orbital path as the comet. Now the probe can begin a yearlong observation period, during which time the comet is expected to make its nearest approach to the Sun. During that time, 67P/C–G should heat up and grow the long tail of water vapor and dust that is characteristic of comets. In November, to get an even closer look at that transition, Rosetta will launch a small lander that will attach itself to the comet’s surface.
