ESA Rendezvous

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Project Supported by D/OPS
ROSETTA: ESA's Rendezvous Mission with a Comet
ROSETTA represents ESA's Horizon 2000 cornerstone mission No. 3 Mission Overview

The ROSETTA mission is a cometary mission which will be launched in the year 2003 by Ariane 5. After a long cruise phase, the satellite will rendezvous with comet Wirtanen and orbit it, while taking scientific measurements. A Surface Science Package (SSP) will be landed on the comet surface to take in-situ measurements. During the cruise phase, the satellite will be given gravity assist manoeuvres once by Mars and twice by the Earth. The satellite will also take measurements in fly-bys of two asteroids.