Rosetta (spacecraft)

Rosetta is a robotic space probe built and launched by the European Space Agency to perform a detailed study of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. On 6 August 2014 it approached the comet to a distance of about 100 km (62 mi) and reduced its relative velocity to 1 m/s (3.3 ft/s), thus becoming the first spacecraft to rendezvous with a comet (previous missions have conducted successful flybys of seven other comets). Following further manoeuvres, it will enter orbit after approaching to 30 km (19 mi) about 6 weeks later.It is part of the ESA Horizon 2000 cornerstone missions and is the first mission designed to both orbit and land on a comet.

Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and reached the comet on 6 August 2014.The spacecraft consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe orbiter, which features 12 instruments, and the Philae robotic lander, with an additional nine instruments. The Rosetta mission will orbit 67P/C-G for 17 months and is designed to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever attempted. The mission is controlled from the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in Darmstadt, Germany.
It was to be a joint mission between USA and ESA but NASA budget was cut so NASA had to drop out even after signing a contact. But there was a few instruments that the USA build for the space probe and tracking the space probe using our Deep Space network a series of radio telescope design to take with space probe was have afew of them spread though out world.
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The spacecraft has already performed two asteroid flyby missions on its way to the comet.In 2007, Rosetta also performed a Mars swing-by (flyby), and returned images.The craft completed its fly-by of asteroid 2867 Šteins in September 2008 and of 21 Lutetia in July 2010.On 20 January 2014, Rosetta was taken out of a 31-month hibernation mode and continued towards the comet. Over the following months, a series of thruster burns slowed Rosetta relative to 67P/C-G, and Rosetta rendezvoused with the comet on 6 August 2014.
Instruments(on the space probe)
The investigation of the core is done by three spectroscopes, one microwave radio antenna and one radar:

    ALICE (an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph). The ultraviolet spectrograph will search for and quantify the noble gas content in the comet core, from which the temperature during the comet creation could be estimated. The detection is done by an array of potassium bromide and caesium iodide photocathodes. The 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) instrument uses 2.9 watts and was produced in the USA, and an improved version is used in the New Horizons spacecraft. It operates in the extreme and far ultraviolet spectrum, between 700 and 2,050 ångströms (70 and 205 nm).
    OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System). The camera system has a narrow-angle lens (700 mm) and a wide-angle lens (140 mm), with a 2048×2048 pixel CCD chip. The instrument was constructed in Germany.
    VIRTIS (Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer). The Visible and IR spectrometer is able to make pictures of the core in the IR and also search for IR spectra of molecules in the coma. The detection is done by a mercury cadmium teluride array for IR and with a CCD chip for the visible wavelength range. The instrument was produced in Italy, and improved versions were used for Dawn and Venus Express.[45]
    MIRO (Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter). The abundance and temperature of volatile substances like water, ammonia and carbon dioxide can be detected by MIRO via their microwave emissions. The 30 cm (12 in) radio antenna was constructed in Germany, while the rest of the 18.5 kg (41 lb) instrument was provided by the USA.
    CONSERT (Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission). The CONSERT experiment will provide information about the deep interior of the comet using a radar. The radar will perform tomography of the nucleus by measuring electromagnetic wave propagation between the Philae lander and the Rosetta orbiter through the comet nucleus. This allows it to determine the comet's internal structure and deduce information on its composition. The electronics were developed by France and both antennas were constructed in Germany.
    RSI (Radio Science Investigation). RSI makes use of the probe's communication system for physical investigation of the nucleus and the inner coma of the comet.[47]

Gas and particles

    ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis). The instrument consists of a double-focus magnetic mass spectrometer DFMS and a reflectron type time of flight mass spectrometer RTOF. The DFMS has a high resolution (can resolve N2 from CO) for molecules up to 300 amu. The RTOF is highly sensitive for neutral molecules and for ions.
    MIDAS (Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System). The high-resolution atomic force microscope will investigate several physical aspects of the dust particles which are deposited on a silicon plate.
    COSIMA (Cometary Secondary Ion Mass Analyser). COSIMA analyses the composition of dust particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry, after the surface is cleaned by indium ions. It can analyse ions up to a mass of 4000 amu.
    GIADA (Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator)

Solar wind interaction

    RPC (Rosetta Plasma Consortium).
Philae is a robotic European Space Agency lander that accompanies the Rosetta spacecraft.It is designed to land on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in November 2014.The lander will achieve the first controlled touchdown on a comet nucleus. The lander’s instruments will obtain the first images from a comet’s surface and make the first in situ analysis to find out what it is made of.The lander is named after Philae Island in the Nile, where an obelisk was found that was used along with the Rosetta Stone to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Instruments
The science payload of the lander consists of ten instruments massing 26.7 kilograms (59 lb), making up nearly one-third of the mass of the lander.

    APXS (Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer) APXS analyzes the chemical element composition of the surface below the lander. The instrument is an improved version of the APXS of the Mars Pathfinder.
    COSAC (COmetary SAmpling and Composition) The combined gas chromatograph and time-of-flight mass spectrometer perform analysis of soil samples and determine the content of volatile components.
    Ptolemy an instrument measuring stable isotopic ratios of key volatiles on the comet's nucleus
    ÇIVA (Comet Nucleus Infrared and Visible Analyzer)
    ROLIS (Rosetta Lander Imaging System)
    CONSERT (COmet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission). The CONSERT radar will perform the tomography of the nucleus by measuring electromagnetic wave propagation from Philae and Rosetta throughout the comet nucleus in order to determine its internal structures and to deduce information on its composition.
    (MUlti-PUrpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science)
ROMAP (Rosetta Lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor)
SESAME (Surface Electric Sounding and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment)
SD2 (Drill, Sample, and Distribution subsystem) Obtains soil samples from the comet at depths of 0 to 230 millimetres (0.0 to 9.1 in) and distributes them to the Ptolmy, COSAC, and Civa subsystems for analysis. The system contains four types of subsystem: drill, carousel, ovens, and volume checker.There are a total of 26 platinum ovens to heat samples—10 medium temperature 180 °C (356 °F) and 16 high temperature 800 °C (1,470 °F)—and one oven to clear the drill bit for reuse.