Churyumov—Gerasimenko Comet: Results of the Studies by «Rosetta» Mission

Priroda ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
A. Basilevsky ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rosetta Mission

Homochirality as the Signature of Extra-Terrestrial Life

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 505-510
Author(s):  
Alexandra J. MacDermott ◽  
Laurence D. Barron ◽  
Andrè Brack ◽  
Thomas Buhse ◽  
John R. Cronin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Optical Rotation ◽  
Physical Origin ◽  
Natural Choice ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Terrestrial Life ◽  
Subsurface Layers ◽  
Solar System Bodies ◽  
Origin Of Homochirality

AbstractThe most characteristic hallmark of life is its homochirality: all biomolecules are usually of one hand, e.g. on Earth life uses only L-amino acids for protein synthesis and not their D mirror images. We therefore suggest that a search for extra-terrestrial life can be approached as a Search for Extra- Terrestrial Homochirality (SETH). The natural choice for a SETH instrument is optical rotation, and we describe a novel miniaturized space polarimeter, called the SETH Cigar, which could be used to detect optical rotation as the homochiral signature of life on other planets. Moving parts are avoided by replacing the normal rotating polarizer by multiple fixed polarizers at different angles as in the eye of the bee. We believe that homochirality may be found in the subsurface layers on Mars as a relic of extinct life, and on other solar system bodies as a sign of advanced pre-biotic chemistry. We discuss the chiral GC-MS planned for the Roland lander of the Rosetta mission to a comet and conclude with theories of the physical origin of homochirality.

scholarly journals AMBITION – comet nucleus cryogenic sample return

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bockelée-Morvan ◽  
Gianrico Filacchione ◽  
Kathrin Altwegg ◽  
Eleonora Bianchi ◽  
Martin Bizzarro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Giant Planet ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Cometary Nucleus ◽  
Comet Nucleus ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
International Context ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Nucleus Surface ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Scientific Questions

AbstractWe describe the AMBITION project, a mission to return the first-ever cryogenically-stored sample of a cometary nucleus, that has been proposed for the ESA Science Programme Voyage 2050. Comets are the leftover building blocks of giant planet cores and other planetary bodies, and fingerprints of Solar System’s formation processes. We summarise some of the most important questions still open in cometary science and Solar System formation after the successful Rosetta mission. We show that many of these scientific questions require sample analysis using techniques that are only possible in laboratories on Earth. We summarize measurements, instrumentation and mission scenarios that can address these questions. We emphasize the need for returning a sample collected at depth or, still more challenging, at cryogenic temperatures while preserving the stratigraphy of the comet nucleus surface layers. We provide requirements for the next generation of landers, for cryogenic sample acquisition and storage during the return to Earth. Rendezvous missions to the main belt comets and Centaurs, expanding our knowledge by exploring new classes of comets, are also discussed. The AMBITION project is discussed in the international context of comet and asteroid space exploration.

scholarly journals Rosetta mission results pre-perihelion

2015 ◽  
Vol 583 ◽  
pp. E1 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alves ◽  
C. Bertout ◽  
T. Forveille ◽  
T. Guillot ◽  
S. Shore
Keyword(s):  
Rosetta Mission

scholarly journals Visible spectral properties of asteroid 21 Lutetia, target of Rosetta Mission

2004 ◽  
Vol 425 (2) ◽  
pp. L25-L28 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lazzarin ◽  
S. Marchi ◽  
S. Magrin ◽  
C. Barbieri
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Rosetta Mission

Ion energy and momentum flux near the cometopause of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Williamson ◽  
Hans Nilsson ◽  
Anja Moslinger ◽  
Sofia Bergman ◽  
Gabriella Stenberg-Wieser
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Ion Energy ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Composition Analyzer ◽  
Energy And Momentum ◽  
Comet 67P

<p>Defined as the region where the plasma interaction region of a comet goes from being solar wind-dominated to cometary ion-dominated, the cometopause is a region of comingling plasmas and complex dynamics. The Rosetta mission orbited comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for roughly two years. During this time, the cometopause was observed by the Ion Composition Analyzer (ICA), part of the Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC), before and after the spacecraft was in the solar wind ion cavity, defined as the region where no solar wind ions were measured. Data from ICA shows that solar wind and cometary ions have similar momentum and energy flux moments during this transitional period, indicating mass loading and deflection of the solar wind. We examine higher order moments and distribution functions for the solar wind and cometary species between December 2015 and March 2016. The behavior of the solar wind protons indicates that in many cases these protons are deflected in a sunward direction, while the cometary ions continue to move predominately antisunward. By studying the distribution functions of the protons during these time periods, it is possible to see a non-Maxwellian energy distribution. This can inform on the nature of the cometopause boundary and the energy transfer mechanisms at play in this region.</p>

scholarly journals The Rosetta Mission and the Chemistry of Organic Species in Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

Elements ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica M. Grady ◽  
Ian P. Wright ◽  
Cécile Engrand ◽  
Sandra Siljeström
Keyword(s):  
Organic Species ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Comet 67P

scholarly journals Compressive strength of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko derived from Philae surface contacts

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A2 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Heinisch ◽  
H.-U. Auster ◽  
B. Gundlach ◽  
J. Blum ◽  
C. Güttler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Surface Material ◽  
Laboratory Measurements ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Ballistic Trajectory ◽  
Comet 67P ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Impact Probe

Context. The landing and rebound of the Philae lander, which was part of the ESA Rosetta mission, enabled us to study the mechanical properties of the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, because we could use Philae as an impact probe. Aims. The aim is to approximate the descent and rebound trajectory of the Philae lander and use this information to derive the compressive strength of the surface material from the different surface contacts and scratches created during the final touchdown. Combined with laboratory measurements, this can give an insight into what comets are made of and how they formed. Methods. We combined observations from the ROMAP magnetometer on board Philae with observations made by the Rosetta spacecraft, particularly by the OSIRIS camera system and the RPC-MAG magnetometer. Additionally, ballistic trajectory and collision modeling was performed. These results are placed in context using laboratory measurements of the compressibility of different materials. Results. It was possible to reconstruct possible trajectories of Philae and determine that a pressure of ~100 Pa is enough to compress the surface material up to a depth of ~20 cm. Considering all errors, the derived compressive strength shows little dependence on location, with an overall upper limit for the surface compressive strength of ~800 Pa.

scholarly journals The Rosetta Mission to Primitive Bodies of the Solar System

1994 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 381-394
Author(s):  
Yves Langevin
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Solar System ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Main Belt ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
One Year ◽  
Definition Of

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Rosetta as the next cornerstone mission, to be launched in 2003. The goal is to perfom one or more fly-bys to main belt asteroids, followed by a rendez-vous with an active comet. Advanced in situ analysis, both in the coma and on the surfaces of the nucleus, will be possible, as well as monitoring by remote sensing instruments of the nucleus and of the inner coma for a time span of more than one year, until perihelion. This paper outlines the scientific and technological choices done in the definition of the mission.

scholarly journals RPC-MIP observations at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko explained by a model including a sheath and two populations of electrons

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A41 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Wattieaux ◽  
N. Gilet ◽  
P. Henri ◽  
X. Vallières ◽  
L. Bucciantini
Keyword(s):  
Collisionless Plasma ◽  
Plasma Sheath ◽  
Sheath Thickness ◽  
Mutual Impedance ◽  
Cometary Plasma ◽  
Rosetta Mission ◽  
Impedance Probe ◽  
First Time ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Comet 67P

The response of the mutual impedance probe RPC-MIP on board Rosetta orbiter electrostatically modeled considering an unmagnetized and collisionless plasma with two Maxwellian electron populations. A vacuum sheath surrounding the probe was considered in our model in order to take the ion sheath into account that is located around the probe, which is immersed in the cometary plasma. For the first time, the simulated results are consistent with the data collected around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P), but strong discrepancies were identified with the previous simulations that neglected the plasma sheath around the probe. We studied the influence of the sheath thickness and of the electron populations. This work helps to better understand the initially unexpected responses of the mutual impedance probe that were acquired during the Rosetta mission. It suggests that two electron populations exist in the cometary plasma of 67P.

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