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The Rosetta space mission revealed a comet as 2 icy balls apparently stuck together billions of years ago. Now scientists say the comet's double-lobed structure guided its evolution.
Rosetta journeyed through space for 12 years and performed early flybys of Earth, Mars and 2 asteroids before arriving at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It produced nearly 100,000 images. Some of the best, here.
One of Rosetta's final reports was of a large object in its field of view: the comet's horizon as the spacecraft was about to strike the comet.
ESA's great Rosetta comet mission has come to an end. Details from its final hour, here.
An otherworldly take on an earthly trend, as Rosetta posed with its comet, 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, in 2014.
It's "the first unambiguous detection of glycine at a comet" and supports the theory that the building blocks for life came to Earth from outer space.
Low density of comets suggested there might be huge empty caves honeycombed throughout their interiors. Maybe true for some, but not so for Rosetta's comet.
"We found a mechanism that replenishes the surface of the comet with fresh ice at every rotation. This keeps the comet 'alive'," said a researcher.
Sinkholes on Earth happen when a subsurface cavern collapses. On the comet, the caverns may be created by ices turning to gas, as the comet nears the sun.
Since the Philae comet lander renewed contact on June 13, the Rosetta mission team has struggled to establish a stable link.
In close-up images via the orbiting Rosetta spacecraft, the rock looks poised like a ballerina, with only a tiny fraction of its surface touching the ground.
Spectacular images from Rosetta spacecraft of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko between January 31 and March 25. Many different angles. Increasing activity!
It's a spacecraft shadow on a comet! Rosetta caught its own shadow encircled in a wreath of light, on the icy surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
Scientists publish a slew of science results from the Rosetta comet mission. Among the most fascinating ... a crack in the comet's neck! Plus dust and jets, the mysterious double-lobed shape, and more.
Two photos from the Rosetta spacecraft – one from last November, and one from a few days ago – show a comet’s seasons changing.
There's three times the concentration of deuterium-enriched water (heavy water) in the vapor from Rosetta's comet as in the water on Earth.
Never-before-seen images of a bouncy comet landing! Shows Philae lander attempting to touch down in the weak gravity field of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
As of Thursday morning, November 13 - after initially failing to attach to the surface - Philae is now stable and is sending back pictures.
A very good 7-minute film, called Ambition. It's not like any film about space exploration you've ever seen. The Rosetta comet mission lies at its heart.
Wow! The Rosetta spacecraft is now seeing jets from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as the comet draws in closer to the sun.
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