Rosetta flies by asteroid
Posted: Sat, Sep 6, 2008, 9:39 AM ET (1339 GMT)
ESA's Rosetta spacecraft flew past an asteroid late Friday, returning some images although also suffering a problem with one camera. Rosetta passed 800 kilometers from the small main belt asteroid 2867 Steins at 2:58 pm EDT (1858 GMT) Friday. Rosetta images returned after the flyby revealed a small object, less than 5 kilometers across, with a shape similar to a cut diamond. Project officials did report that the spacecraft's narrow-angle camera switched itself into safe mode a few minutes before closest approach and turned itself back on a few hours later, apparently when the instrument's software detected a parameter beyond safe thresholds; what triggered the shutdown wasn't immediately known. The flyby is one of two asteroid encounters planned for the spacecraft before it arrives at its ultimate destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, in 2014.
ESA's Rosetta spacecraft flew past an asteroid late Friday, returning some images although also suffering a problem with one camera. Rosetta passed 800 kilometers from the small main belt asteroid 2867 Steins at 2:58 pm EDT (1858 GMT) Friday. Rosetta images returned after the flyby revealed a small object, less than 5 kilometers across, with a shape similar to a cut diamond. Project officials did report that the spacecraft's narrow-angle camera switched itself into safe mode a few minutes before closest approach and turned itself back on a few hours later, apparently when the instrument's software detected a parameter beyond safe thresholds; what triggered the shutdown wasn't immediately known. The flyby is one of two asteroid encounters planned for the spacecraft before it arrives at its ultimate destination, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, in 2014.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 11
Space Force developing new cloud-based digital environment for training
Defensescoop — 8:08 am ET (1208 GMT) The battle over Colorado’s Space Command isn’t over, but it may be ending soon
Washington Examiner — 8:08 am ET (1208 GMT) Rocket Lab Selects Bollinger Shipyards to Support Modification of Neutron Landing Platform
Business Wire — 8:07 am ET (1207 GMT) Elon Musk's SpaceX set to launch Israel's Dror satellite
Globes Online — 8:04 am ET (1204 GMT) South Korea secures key step toward space partnership with Europe
Chosun Ilbo — 8:03 am ET (1203 GMT) |
