AOSS: Rosetta spacecraft makes history as first probe to enter into orbit with a comet
August 8, 2014
The Rosetta spacecraft made history Wednesday morning as it became the first probe to enter into orbit with a comet. AOSS Professor Tamas Gombosi (and scientist on the Rosetta team) commented before the rendezvous that "Rosetta is not even at the comet yet, and we already have the first surprise" on recent pictures that show that Comet 67P is an odd-shaped lobular object rather than shaped like a potato.
The spacecraft will follow Comet 67P over the next year, gathering data that scientists hope will shed more light on the composition of comets and whether or not they contributed to the building blocks of life.
Release Date:
08/08/2014
