Tag: Comet
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ESA Brings Forward Comet Interceptor Mission Aimed at Pristine Solar System Visitor
The European Space Agency is accelerating preparations for its Comet Interceptor mission, one of its most ambitious scientific ventures, designed to intercept and study a pristine comet — or potentially an interstellar object — entering the inner solar system for the first time. According to a report by SpaceNews, the mission’s launch timetable has been…
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We’re about to find many more interstellar interlopers—here’s how to visit one
A few days ago, an inscrutable interstellar interloper made its closest approach to Mars, where a fleet of international spacecraft seek to unravel the red planet’s ancient mysteries. Several of the probes encircling Mars took a break from their usual activities and turned their cameras toward space to catch a glimpse of an object named…
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Apex Unveils Largest Satellite Bus Yet to Target Constellation Market
U.S. satellite manufacturer Apex has introduced its largest spacecraft to date, a new satellite bus aimed at both commercial and government constellation operators. The company said on May 28 it is now accepting orders for Comet, a large satellite platform designed to support payloads exceeding 500 kilograms and generating more than five kilowatts of power.…
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China launches the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission
The Chinese space program is preparing to join the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA in returning samples from an asteroid to Earth. The Tianwen-2 probe and its Chang Zheng 3B/E (CZ-3B/E) rocket launched successfully from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China on Wednesday, May 28, at…
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Titan drone, comet sampler picked as finalists for NASA mission
Artist’s concept of the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. Credit: NASA NASA has narrowed its choices for a new billion-dollar robotic space mission: A nuclear-powered quadcopter to explore the hazy landscape of Saturn’s largest moon Titan, or a probe to scoop up a piece of a comet and return it to Earth. The space…
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Rosetta gets ringside seat to smelly comet outburst
A short-lived outburst from Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko was captured by Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on July 29. Each image was taken 18 minutes apart, showing no activity, a sudden eruption, and then a faint trace of the jet. Rosetta was flying 186 kilometers (115 miles) from the comet at the time of the outburst. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS…
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New contact with intractable comet lander
Artist’s concept of the Philae lander. Credit: DLR Europe’s Rosetta comet probe re-established momentary contact with the Philae lander late Thursday, renewing hopes of starting up the craft’s research instruments after two weeks of radio silence dampened the moods of scientists. Thursday’s contact, which lasted 12 minutes before failing, was the first time ground controllers…
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For comet scientists, elation and redemption at Philae’s wakeup
Artist’s concept of Philae. Credit: ESA Research teams across Europe spent the last half-year meticulously going through a wish list of experiments for the Philae comet lander without knowing whether they would ever get a chance to execute the tasks. With Philae now awake after a seven-month slumber, scientists are eager to turn on the…
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Engineers seek to stabilize radio link with comet lander
Rosetta’s navigation camera captured this view of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko awakened by the sun June 5. Credit: ESA/Rosetta/NavCam Emboldened by renewed contact with Europe’s comet lander, engineers are repositioning the mission’s Rosetta mothership this week to establish a reliable a communications link with the dishwasher-sized Philae landing craft, a prerequisite for resuming a science campaign abbreviated…
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Comet lander wakes up!
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION Artist’s concept of the Philae lander. Credit: DLR The European Space Agency’s Philae comet lander, out of power and presumably lost after bouncing into heavily shadowed terrain last November, phoned home Saturday after finally getting enough sunlight on its solar panels to transmit data to the Rosetta orbiter…