Mission Timeline
This is the planned timeline for the mission after its launch:
- First Earth flyby (March 4, 2005)
- Mars flyby (February 25, 2007)
- Second Earth flyby (November 13, 2007 )
- Flyby of asteroid 2867 Šteins (September 5, 2008)
- Third Earth flyby (November 13, 2009)
- Flyby of asteroid 21 Lutetia (July 10, 2010)
- Deep-space hibernation (June 2011 - January 2014)
- Comet approach (January–May 2014)
- Comet mapping / Characterisation (August 2014)
- Landing on the comet (November 2014)
- Escorting the comet around the Sun (November 2014 - December 2015)
- End of mission (December 2015)
Rosetta's current location can be found on the ESA website.
Read more about this topic: Rosetta (spacecraft)
Famous quotes containing the word mission:
“Not in vain is Ireland pouring itself all over the earth. Divine Providence has a mission for her children to fulfill; though a mission unrecognized by political economists. There is ever a moral balance preserved in the universe, like the vibrations of the pendulum. The Irish, with their glowing hearts and reverent credulity, are needed in this cold age of intellect and skepticism.”
—Lydia M. Child (1802–1880)