The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Space => Topic started by: geronl on September 26, 2016, 08:14:28 pm

Title: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: geronl on September 26, 2016, 08:14:28 pm
Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission


Quote
For a billion miles, the tireless spacecraft called Rosetta has shadowed an icy comet through the solar system, enduring dust storms, fountains of gas and the comet’s mood swings.

Now, faithful to the end, Rosetta is about to join the comet for eternity.

Early on Friday,  the craft will smash in slow motion onto the comet. Moving at the pace of a stroll, Rosetta will touch down, bounce and eventually come to rest, probably breaking its solar panels or instrument booms as it tumbles. No word from it will ever reach Earth again

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/26/rosetta-spacecraft-suicide-by-comet/91110928/
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: Oceander on September 26, 2016, 10:34:37 pm
Why for?
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: Smokin Joe on September 27, 2016, 11:01:28 am
Interesting, thanks!
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: geronl on September 27, 2016, 11:03:12 am
Quote from: Oceander on September 26, 2016, 10:34:37 pm
Why for?

for science!
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: Oceander on September 27, 2016, 11:45:11 am
Quote from: geronl on September 27, 2016, 11:03:12 am
for science!

Or just to bash things up?
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: geronl on September 27, 2016, 11:55:42 am
Quote from: Oceander on September 27, 2016, 11:45:11 am
Or just to bash things up?

There is that too.

Bash things up..... for science! ;p
Title: Re: Rosetta spacecraft to fling itself at comet in a suicide mission
Post by: Oceander on September 27, 2016, 11:57:14 am
Quote from: geronl on September 27, 2016, 11:55:42 am
There is that too.

Bash things up..... for science! ;p

Bashing things up is my favorite part!  I loved watching Shoemaker-Levy bash itself into Jupiter so many years ago.