Space enthusiasts should get hold of their seats soon because NASA is about to deliberately smash a $1.5 billion spacecraft into a comet.
This September 30, Europe's history-making Rosetta is set to complete its remarkable mission by descending to the surface of its Comet 67P, making them reunited with its companion Philae.
Rosetta'sexpected landing site is on the comet's head, among the large pits of a region called Ma'at, in which the OSIRIS instrument's cameras will be taking photos while the ROSINA instrument will be gathering several data on the composition of gas surrounding the comet.
There are instruments also that will explore its densities, temperatures, and measures its solar wind power. As what O'Rourke said, "We're literally diving into the unknown, entering towards a new zone for science".
Unlike all the exciting live streaming space missions that we're accustomed to, this highlight comes with a touch of sorrow. Rosetta will come to its end. This scheme somehow saves Rosetta from becoming ghostly pieces of space fragments, uselessly wandering in the vast solar system.
"You hit into a point where the spacecraft does not have sufficient power to keep itself alive. September was the perfect time to finish on our terms," O'Rourke stated.
"Although we've been flying Rosetta around the comet for two years now, keeping it functioning safely for the final weeks of its mission in the changeable environment of this comet and so far from the Sun and Earth, will be our biggest challenge yet," conveyed by Sylvain Lodiot, ESA's spacecraft operations manager.
Taylor reiterated that Rosetta will continue to live through the acquired loads of great science out of the data that has been taken from it. He also added that he's excited to discover more about Comet 67P's origin and how it fits into the beginning of the solar system.
Rosetta will slowlysmash into the pit of Comet 67P allowing the scientists to gather exceptional data and to grasp the tiniest bit of vital information from the 12-year mission.
