The comet is called Comet 67p/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The spacecraft is named Rosetta. Launched ten years and a few months ago, it is now in close orbit around aforesaid comet, and snapping pictures like crazy. The comet is not a particularly beautiful thing, by human standards. It’s rough, seemingly covered with dust and not ice, and funny shaped (from one angle it looks like a rubber duck, from another just like a not particularly well formed potato, and it’s spinning around like a drunk falling downhill). It is about 5 kilometers from end to end and about 3 kilometers the other way.
A likely spot to find a Prince, and his Rose.
Rosetta, on the other hand, is a goddamned marvel. Sure, men have landed on the moon but the whole mission took less than a week, and the moon is a lot closer to us than Churyumov -Gerasimenko ever gets. Also, it’s the size of North America so, comparatively, like hitting the broad side of a barn. Mars is a bit further away but still closer than Chury-Gury, and it’s a planet – roughly the same size as the Earth.
Rosetta had to orbit the sun 5 times to work up to speed and intersect the orbit of a rock about the size of Central Park, smaller than many small towns in Oklahoma. We’ve all driven past places larger than Chury-Gury and never noticed them at all. This was amazing planning. Amazing execution. An amazing machine.
In November, it will actually send down a lander. Another small step for a machine that’s traveled a long way. Another huge leap forward for all mankind.
Living in Europe, I’m proud of the fact that this was a European Space Agency project. But that’s a minor point. Like most people who are interested in space, I rejoice whenever NASA, the Russian’s, the Chinese, or Richard Branson, Elon Musk and friends does something great in space. Space is far out, space is beyond the petty squabbling of Earth governments and religious wackadoodles. Literally beyond. Way beyond.
Good job, Rosetta!
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