& ESA's Comet-Chaser Rosetta

Source: http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/14615-comet-67p/ Photo by: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/ SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA Contributors : Greg Hough, Fall 2015 James Loo, Spring 2015

ASTR101, Montgomery College, Germantown Dr. Mike Chu

History…Who is Churyumov? Who is Gerasimenko? Klim Churyumov Svetlana Gerasimenko • Churyumov is a Soviet and Ukrainian astronomer . Director of the Kiev Planetarium and member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine the International Astronomical Union.

• Gerasimenko is a Soviet

Source: http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/02/19/happy- Ukrainian and Tajikistani Source: http://www.ksta.de/panorama/-reise-zum-kometen- birthday-klim/ Photo By: ESA/C.Carreau jubel-im-kontrollzentrum,15189504,29027050.html Photo astronomer. by: Michael Bause

ž In 1969 both astronomers discovered the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and on November 12th 2014 the Rosetta space mission successfully landed its Philae spacecraft on its surface. What is Churyumov-Gerasimenko? • This 4.6 billion year old comet is originally from the Kuiper belt, with a current orbital period of 6.45 years.

• The Comet has a rotation period of approximately 12.4 hours a maximum Source: http://www.leonarddavid.com/comet-probe-where-to- land/ Photo by: ESA/DLR velocity of 84,000 mph and is 2.7 by 2.5 miles at its longest and widest dimensions.

• It was first observed in 1969 by Soviet astronomers Klim Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana Ivanovna Gerasimenko in Alma-Ata, Kazakh

Source: http://www.sci-news.com/space/science-rosetta-molecular- SSR, Soviet Union nitrogen-67pchuryumov-gerasimenko-02625.html Photo by: ESA/ Rosetta/NAVCAM/CC BY-SA IGO 3.0. Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. SHAPE AND SIZE…. • The comet is a two-lobe shape resulting in collision from two objects. Layers of the interior have been exposed by the partial stripping of outer layers from collision.

• In Earth terms, this comet is very large , it’s about the size of lower Manhattan but in the scheme of the universe it’s a needle in a big haystack.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/67P/Churyumov%E2%80%93Gerasimenko Source: http://www.neatorama.com/2014/11/12/Size-Comparisons-for-Landing-on-a- Photo by: Rosetta spacecraft Comet/ The Rosetta Mission Launch • Rosetta was launched in 2004 on March 2nd from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 rocket.

• It’s one of ESA's Horizon 2000 cornerstone missions and consists of the Rosetta orbiter featuring 12 instruments, and the Philae lander, with nine additional instruments.

• It’s mission is to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever. The spacecraft is controlled from the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

Source: http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/54456-highlights-from-the- Source: http://spaceflightnow.com/rosetta/140120wakeup/#.Vjn-GitRKEg Photo by: ESA rosetta-mission-thus-far/ Photo by: ESA/CNES/ ARIANESPACE-Service Optique CSG, 2004 Rosetta & Specifications • Rosetta has a 9.2 × 6.9 × 6.6 ft central frame and aluminium honeycomb platform. Its total mass is approximately 6,180 lbs.

• Electrical power for the spacecraft comes from two solar totaling 690 sq ft. Source: http://arspolarispress.com/3509/features/what-the-world-was-like-when- rosetta-was-launched/ • The main structure of Philae is made from carbon fiber, shaped into a plate, it’s a hexagonal shape holding scientific instruments. • The total mass is about 220 lb. The exterior is covered with solar cells for power generation. • The legs were designed to avoid bouncing as the comet's escape velocity is only around 2.2 mph. Source: http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/08/Philae_s_mission_at_comet_67P

Rosetta Mission Timeline & Trajectory

Source: http://spaceodyssey.dmns.org/missionsobservatories/spacecraft-missions/rosetta.aspx Rosetta Trajectory & Mission in Detail • March 4th 2005 - First planned close swing-by of Earth.

• February 25th 2007 - Mars Fly by.

• November 13th 2007 - Second Earth swing-by.

• November 13th 2009 - Third & final Earth swing by.

• July 10th 2010 - Flew by and photographed the asteroid 21 Lutetia.

• July 14th 2014 - System returned images of the Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/rosetta-mission-reaches- Comet confirming it’s irregular shape. comet-in-first-for-space-travel-1407322701 • August 6th 2014 - Rosetta arrives at the Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet.

• November 12th 2014 - Philae lands on the surface of the Comet.

• August 11th 2015 - Images of a comet outburst that occurred on July 29th 2015. Pictures from Rosetta of Churyumov- Gerasimenko

Source: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/ Rosetta_arrives_at_comet_destination

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer20130910.html Source: http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2015/01/16/cometwatch-10-january/ Pictures of Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s Surface

Source: http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2014/09/Comet_on_5_September_2014 Source: http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2014/11/ NAVCAM_top_10_at_10_km_5

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/rosetta-probe-images-comet-67pchuryumov-gerasimenko- Source: http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2014/11/NAVCAM_top_10_at_10_km_6 lead-speculation-comet-may-break-1792334 The Surface… • The surface of the comet is divided into 19 different regions separated by distinct geomorphological boundaries. They range from dust covered, brittle and pitted material, rock-like, large- scale depressions ESA / Rosetta / MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS / UPD / LAM / IAA / SSO / INTA / UPM / DASP / IDA and smooth. • Following the ancient Egyptian theme of the Rosetta mission, they are named for Egyptian deities. They are grouped according to the type of terrain dominant within each region. • Five basic categories of terrain types follow as dust-covered (Ma'at, Ash and Babi); brittle materials with pits and circular structures (Seth); large-scale depressions (Hatmehit, Nut and Aten); smooth terrains (Hapi, Imhotep and Anubis), and exposed, more consolidated ('rock-like') surfaces (Maftet, Bastet, Serqet, Hathor, Anuket, Khepry, Aker, Atum and Apis). Results & What did we learn? • The magnetic field of 67P oscillates at 40– 50 millihertz. Scientists modified the signal by speeding it up 10,000 times so that people can hear it. It’s a natural phenomenon, it has been described as a "song“.

• The composition of water vapor from the comet is substantially different from that found on Earth.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/a-first-for-science-and- humanity-as-the-philae-lander-touches-down-on-comet-67p-9856713.html

• Electrons (within 1 km (0.62 mi) above the comet nucleus produced from photo ionization of water molecules by solar radiation, and not photons from the Sun as thought earlier, are responsible for the degradation of water and carbon dioxide molecules released from the comet nucleus into its coma.

ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM Future Plans for the Rosetta Mission

Source: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Rosetta_operations Source: http://www.tbo.com/ap/comet-probe-reaches-target-after-10-year-chase-20140806/ Photo By: AP From this time until December of this year Rosetta will follow the comet around the Sun and will perform treacherous investigations. The mission is scheduled to end in September 2016 when the space craft attempts to land on the comet's Source: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/comet-chasing_rosetta_spacecra.html Photo by: AP Photo/ surface. ESA, C.Carreau

Questions!

ž What year was Churyumov–Gerasimenko discovered? ž How old is Churyumov–Gerasimenko? ž In Earth terms, this comet is very large, it’s about the size of which New York borough? ž The total mass of Philae is about 220 lb. The exterior is covered with what for power generation? ž What’s the exact date Rosetta arrived at the Churyumov- Gerasimenko Comet? ž About how many Millihertz does the magnetic field of Churyumov-Gerasimenko oscillate at? ž When is the Rosetta mission scheduled to end?