Rosetta

space exploration · comets · European Space Agency

Epic Journey. Rosetta launched on March 2, 2004, and spent about ten years traveling through space before reaching comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Along the way, it swung past Earth, Mars, and two asteroids to build up speed.

Comet Detective. When Rosetta finally arrived at the comet, it studied it in incredible detail, taking close-up images and measurements that scientists had never been able to get before. It was like sending a robot explorer to visit a giant space snowball.

Carried a Lander. Rosetta brought along a smaller spacecraft called Philae that actually landed on the comet's surface, making it the first spacecraft ever to touch down on a comet. The team had to figure out how to land on something so small and unpredictable.

Huge Undertaking. The entire Rosetta mission cost about 1.3 billion euros, making it one of the most expensive space missions ever. That money went toward building the spacecraft, paying hundreds of scientists and engineers, and running the mission for over a decade.

Many Flybys. As Rosetta traveled outward toward the comet, it passed by Earth, Mars, and two asteroids named Lutetia and Steins, gathering data from each one along the way.