Burial of a $ 1.5 billion probe on comets

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta probe will end its 12-year mission by plunging down the "grave" on comet 67P later this month.

The $ 1.5 billion Rosetta probe will fall into the area named Ma'at on comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko on September 30 as expected by ESA, Gizmodo reported. This 60m deep pit is located in the smaller half of 67P with a rough hole, which is thought to produce many streaks of dust forming comet tails.

Rosetta flies above comet 67P.(Photo: ESA).

From August 9, Rosetta began adjusting the flight path to an elliptical orbit to approach the surface of the comet 67P. At the closest access point, the ship is only 800 meters from the surface of 67P. Rosetta will complete the trajectory of flying on September 24 before falling to the previously selected collision location. During the fall, the Rosetta will provide the team with the most up-close shots of the 67P surface over the past two years.

In addition to Ma'at, the collision area has many holes more than 100m wide. These pits lie along the strange concave structures that scientists call "chicken skin" , most likely the vestiges of comets when comets 67P formed into the early days of the solar system. .

The expected collision location of comet Rosetta 67P.(Photo: ESA).

"Although it has been controlling Rosetta around the comet for two years now, maintaining the vessel to operate safely in the final weeks of the mission in the unpredictable environment of 67P, the Sun and Earth are the biggest challenges. with us , " said Sylvain Lodiot, ESA's operations manager. "We feel the difference in the attraction of comets when flying more and more. It increases the flight time around the ship's trajectory and we have to make minor adjustments."

At first, scientists planned to put the ship in hibernation when it went further away from the Sun. But they worry that Rosetta is not collecting enough solar energy to maintain its operation. Therefore, the ESA team decided to let Rosetta land on the comet surface under controlled conditions.