[meteorite-list] Rosetta Update - December 3, 2002

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:53:33 2004
Message-ID: <200212061624.IAA01222_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/news_sub_missionupdate158_index.html

Rosetta Mission Update
Arianespace

Flight 158
December 3: Combined operations begin for the Rosetta launch
  
Preparations for Arianespace Flight 158 marked another milestone
today as the comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft made its first contact
with Ariane 5 launcher hardware. The activity took place in
Arianespace's new S5 satellite preparation facility, where Rosetta
was mated to the Ariane 5's adapter cone.

The photos below show Rosetta during its first "meeting" with the
Ariane 5 (click on the images for larger versions):

[Image]
The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft is carefully
lowered onto the conic-shaped interface adapter cone. The
combination will be integrated atop the Ariane 5 in the final
pre-launch preparations. Flight 158 is scheduled for liftoff from
the Spaceport January 12 on a complex deep-space trajectory to
catch the Comet Wirtanen on a mission lasting through 2013.

[Image]
This close-up shows the Rosetta space probe as it is
readied for mating to Ariane 5's interface adapter. Once the
final checkout is completed, Rosetta will be moved from
the S5 facility to the Ariane 5 final assembly building,
where it will be installed on the Ariane 5's core
stage. The ambitious Rosetta mission relies on the
power and flexibility of Ariane 5, and it will be the first
spacecraft placed on an Earth-escape trajectory by the
heavy-lift launcher. Rosetta has a 19-day launch
period that opens on the night of January 12, with the daily
launch window lasting approximately 20 minutes long.
Received on Fri 06 Dec 2002 11:24:58 AM PST