The Rosetta spacecraft, now on its way to Comet 67 P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko, will be the first ever to orbit and drop a lander on a comet. The 3000 kg spacecraft will study the origin of comets, the relationship between cometary and interstellar material and its implications with regard to the origin of the Solar System. On its 10 year journey to the comet, the spacecraft will hopefully pass by at least one asteroid. Rosetta has a complex trajectory including three Earth and one Mars gravity assist maneuver before finally reaching the comet. On arrival at 67P Rosetta will enter orbit around the comet and stay with it as it journeys in towards the Sun.
Amptek is proud to have provided the Radiation Hard Hybrid Preamplifiers and High Voltage Opto-Couplers for this mission.
Rosetta Home Page
Descriptive article on Rosetta