ESA picks comet landing site
Posted: Tue, Sep 16, 2014, 8:29 AM ET (1229 GMT)
The European Space Agency announced Monday that it has selected a location on the surface of a comet where it will attempt to land a spacecraft in November. ESA said it has selected a location known as site "J" on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko where it will land the Philae spacecraft. Philae is a lander that will be deployed from the Rosetta spacecraft, which arrived at the comet last month. Selecting a landing site for Philae proved to be particularly challenging given that the comet's nucleus has an unusual "rubber duckie" shape with two lobes and rough terrain. Site J is on the smaller, or "head," lobe of the comet, near what appears to be active surface features. The spacecraft's landing attempt is scheduled for November 11. ESA estimates a 70-75% chance of a successful landing.
The European Space Agency announced Monday that it has selected a location on the surface of a comet where it will attempt to land a spacecraft in November. ESA said it has selected a location known as site "J" on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko where it will land the Philae spacecraft. Philae is a lander that will be deployed from the Rosetta spacecraft, which arrived at the comet last month. Selecting a landing site for Philae proved to be particularly challenging given that the comet's nucleus has an unusual "rubber duckie" shape with two lobes and rough terrain. Site J is on the smaller, or "head," lobe of the comet, near what appears to be active surface features. The spacecraft's landing attempt is scheduled for November 11. ESA estimates a 70-75% chance of a successful landing.
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Roscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS
Posted: Sat, Dec 6 9:45 AM ET (1445 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 15
Satellites help tackle landfill methane leaks
ESA — 4:46 am ET (0946 GMT) SpaceX adds 27 satellites to its growing Starlink constellation
UPI — 4:45 am ET (0945 GMT) STMicro has shipped 5 billion chips for Starlink in past decade; that could double by 2027
Reuters — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) Hegseth Visits Alabama to Cement Redstone Arsenal as Future Home of Space Command
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) RocketLab sends Japanese communications satellite into orbit
UPI — 4:42 am ET (0942 GMT) |
