Rosetta is the first space mission to attempt to land on a comet.

Rosetta will spend two years travelling with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko along its orbital path around the Sun. The Rosetta orbiter will map the surface of the nucleus and analyse gases and dust in the comet's atmosphere. The Rosetta lander will drop down onto the surface to take ground-based measurements and drill samples from below the surface for analysis.

Sightseeing en-route

Rosetta will take 10 years to reach its target, Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. During its journey it will undergo gravity-assist manoeuvres and asteroid flybys. 

To build up speed, Rosetta will swing by the Earth three times during its journey.  In 2007, it will also slingshot round Mars.  As Rosetta approaches the Red Planet, it will take pictures and measurements of the Martian surface to find out which minerals are present in the soil.

Rosetta will also study some asteroids as it flies past. Rosetta's instruments will measure the size, shape and rotational period of the asteroids and look for traces of dust and gas around them.

UK involvement

Scientists and engineers from 17 organisations in the UK have contributed to the Rosetta mission.

The Open University and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have developed Ptolemy, a miniature laboratory that will investigate the chemical make-up of Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. British scientists are involved in nine other instruments carried by the Rosetta orbiter and lander.  For more details, click on the UK involvement map.

Rosetta Links

Rosetta mission homepage

Rosetta Lander homepage

Open University's Rosetta pages

Ptolemy instrument homepage

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's Rosetta page

Imperial College's Rosetta site

Mullard Space Science Laboratory's Rosetta site