Rosetta
Rosetta was ESA's 2004-2016 comet-rendezvous mission. The Astrium-led orbiter used four planetary gravity assists and two asteroid encounters to reach Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, became the first spacecraft to rendezvous with and escort a comet, deployed the DLR-led Philae for the first comet landing, and concluded with a controlled descent onto the nucleus.
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Identity
- Aliases
- International Rosetta MissionRosetta comet missionESA Rosetta
- Name
- Rosetta
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Rosetta was ESA's 2004-2016 comet-rendezvous mission. The Astrium-led orbiter used four planetary gravity assists and two asteroid encounters to reach Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, became the first spacecraft to rendezvous with and escort a comet, deployed the DLR-led Philae for the first comet landing, and concluded with a controlled descent onto the nucleus.
- Destination
- Orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, followed by Philae’s first comet landing on 12 November 2014 and Rosetta’s controlled descent on 30 September 2016
- End Date
- 2016-09-30
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Successful. Rosetta completed the first rendezvous and sustained escort of a comet, observed 67P through perihelion, delivered Philae for the first touchdown and in-situ science on a comet nucleus, returned extensive orbiter and lander data, and ended as planned in a controlled descent on September 30, 2016.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2004-03-02
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Wikipedia Url
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- April 26, 2026 at 14:18:56 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 23, 2026 at 01:41:11 UTC
- Image
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Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles