Tags: space science comet
Scientists soon will be able to uncover a few secrets of the cosmos. European probe Rosetta comet reached Chyuryumova-Gerasimenko. The project started 10 years ago. During this time, in pursuit of a celestial body probe overcame 6 billion kilometers. And now sat on his tail. This is the moment a comet research through digital technology – while from afar. But in November on its surface sits lander.
European Space Agency scientists are jubilant. On Wednesday, the unit Rosetta approached the final stage of his hunt for the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Came up on space standards, at arm’s length. They shared some 100 kilometers.
“This is the real beginning of the scientific mission, because now we really begin to study the comet. Clarify what it’s where it was in the solar system. We open the treasure chest,” – says a senior scientific adviser to the European Space Agency Marc Makgaugrin.
Mission in the genre of the movie “Armageddon” has dragged on for ten years. Rosetta comet chasing 6.5 billion kilometers, four times circled the sun and even had time to “sleep” for three years in order to save energy. Now the spacecraft entered the orbit of a complex triangular and has already sent the first unique pictures to Earth. At a distance were able to determine the temperature of the surface – there serious cold – minus 70 Celsius.
“The problem is that we know almost nothing about the comet. And when you created the probe, knew even less. We do not know what there is surface – soft or hard, do not know the diurnal cycles. This is the main difference from the missions to the Moon and Mars where we believe what we are dealing, “- says the project manager Stefan Ulamets.
Now it was the most difficult part of the program. Rosetta within three months closer to the surface of the comet at a distance of 2 kilometers and will release a probe “Phil.” The descent module will take samples of soil, gas and special drill try to penetrate deep into the cosmic body. Order not to miss, the unit will fire a harpoon and the rope will attract itself to the comet. On Earth, these tests were successful – the force of impact was enough to knock a few meters of solid rock.
“This spear can pass through any material. If it is too hard, it will pierce the tip only slightly. But it has a special notch that engages even in dense ice” – explains the scientist from the Institute for the study of the solar system at the Max Planck Reinhard Roll.
Margin for error in the “Fila” no. Comet, which opened 45 years ago, Soviet scientists Klim Churyumov and Svetlana Gerasimenko, 4.5 billion years old. And it is likely to continue in its original form. Perhaps it was a comet brought to Earth the first hydrogen molecule.
“Speculation is that the water has been brought to earth by comets expressed a long time, but they do not get until very confident confirmation. And study the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko will be a very important step in this study. And what they will answer it we can not say – that’s the beauty, “- says the head of the department of physics and evolution of stars Institute of Astronomy Dmitry vibe.
Space grit diameter of 3 kilometers to help reveal the secret of the universe. This mission has already been called cosmic archeology, the cost of which exceeded one billion euros. However, the size and hope are not inferior.
Peter Vershinin. Alexander Sergomasova. Dean Samokhina. “TV Center”.
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