‘J’ marks the spot for Rosetta’s lander

[Waspie_Dwarf]

‘J’ marks the spot for Rosetta’s lander

25 August 2014 Rosetta’s lander Philae will target Site J, an intriguing region on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko that offers unique scientific potential, with hints of activity nearby, and minimum risk to the lander compared to the other candidate sites.

Site J is on the ‘head’ of the comet, an irregular shaped world that is just over 4 km across at its widest point. The decision to select Site J as the primary site was unanimous. The backup, Site C, is located on the ‘body’ of the comet.

The 100 kg lander is planned to reach the surface on 11 November, where it will perform indepth measurements to characterise the nucleus in situ, in a totally unprecedented way.

Read more...

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Images of the primary and back-up landing sites, relaeased by ESA today, are now in the Asteroids and Comets section of UM Space Exploration gallery:

• Philae’s primary landing site
  
• Philae’s primary landing site in context
  
• Philae’s primary landing site close-up
  
• Philae landing site context
  
• Philae’s backup landing site
  

[Waspie_Dwarf]

A new image of the comet:

• Comet on 14 September 2014 - NavCam
  

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Another new image of the comet, this one clearly shows an active jet from the comet:

• Comet on 19 September 2014 – NavCam
  

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Rosetta Mission Status

Rosetta mission is ongoing. The landing site for Philae has been chosen. The adventure continues!

But already Rosetta is providing to the scientific community more than any previous comet mission.

Credit: ESA

Source: ESA - Space in Videos

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Two new images:

• Comet on 21 September – NavCam
  
• Comet on 24 September – NavCam
  

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Another new image:

• Landing site J in Rosetta's NavCam – 21 September