Rosetta-Philae

Type

Orbiter, Lander

Launch

March 2, 2004

Target

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Objective

Comet Orbit and Landing

Goals

The European Space Agency’s Rosetta was the first mission designed to orbit and land on a comet. It consisted of an orbiter and a lander – called Philae. The two spacecraft carried 20 sciences instruments to make a detailed study of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for two years as it orbited around our Sun.

Accomplishments

In August 2014, Rosetta became the first spacecraft to orbit a comet when it joined comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on it’s journey around the Sun. On Nov. 12, 2014, Rosetta scored another historic first when its Philae probe successfully landed on the surface of the comet and began sending back images and data.

The mission ended with a successful controlled impact on the comet on Sept. 30, 2016.

Rosetta-Philae Stories

Explore All Rosetta-Philae Stories

Article

5 Min Read

NASA-Led Team Links Comet Water to Earth’s Oceans

Article

5 Min Read

Comet Discovered to Have Its Own Northern Lights

Min Read

NASA Television to Provide Coverage of European Mission Comet Touchdown

News Release

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Rosetta Comet Outburst Captured

Article

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Why Comets Are Like Deep Fried Ice Cream

Article

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