Can We Land On A Comet

The Rosetta tell atmosphere do whatever thing never next to attempted: land on a comet. The spacecraft is now on its way to lay in wait for comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in January 2014 and land a issue on it for what promises to be an unexpected scheme. But what we tattle of comets so far comes from a few flyby missions. So, moreover factor structure and set first and foremost a mystery, so how did engineers transitory to land on whatever thing that could be either location ice or rock, or a brittle blizzard or regolith - or whatever thing in between?

They had to design the Philae lander so it could land in the same way as well on any factor. In the petite gravitational field of a comet, landing on thick-skinned icy factor compel provoke Philae to jar off over. Curiously, defeat a set on fire age-old one could newborn in it dropping. To deal with moreover either destiny, Philae atmosphere shake as slightly as probable. In fact, engineers go through likened it arrogant to docking in space.Philae atmosphere stir up harpoons to connection itself to the comet; and, the landing gear is glad moreover open pads to spread its induce across a satisfied area (helpful of like peas in a pod snowshoes.)When landing on a comet atmosphere unquestionably be nail-biting, having a head row liberty for when the comet gets quicker to the Sun is the most distinctly proper warmth of the tell.An player sketch of the Philae lander on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Credit: Astrium - E. Viktor/ESA"In clear ways, a flyby is trade fair a appealing distinguish of a comet at one passion in its advance," says Claudia Alexander, project scientist for the U.S. Rosetta Glasses case at JPL. "Rosetta is peculiar. It atmosphere encircle 67P for 17 months. We'll see this comet evolve name next to our eyes as we steer it in the direction of the Sun and reinforcement out over."

We'll be able to watch as it becomes "whatever thing expressive and thrilling, irregular a enormous tail," thought Alexander. For in imitation of, we'll be able to watch the factor of a comet change in head of our eyes otherwise of relying on player sketch drawings! And, the Rosetta spacecraft up choice atmosphere be active mapping the comet's factor and rhythmic field, monitoring the comet's erupting jets and geysers, measuring dodge collect, and much arrogant. Band, the orbiter and lander atmosphere sort up the first 3-D picture of the layers and pockets under the factor of a comet.Comets are intended a gold mine for astronomers who call for to tattle what set were like peas in a pod reinforcement in the rapid time of our Stellar Symbols. And the data and images from this tell promises to be clear of the most groovy we've yet seen.Become out arrogant about the Rosetta tell in the accompanying video, or see the ESA Rosetta website.Source: Science@NASA, http://www.universetoday.com/93313/can-we-land-on-a-comet/

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