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 The
"Rosetta" space probe will be launched on a European Ariane 5 rocket in 2003 on its spectacular journey
to the comet "Wirtanen". The space probe built by the Astrium
space company should then circle the comet after a flight through space lasting 8 years and investigate it in
detail. The highlight of the mission will be the intended landing of the second, smaller probe, the "Rosetta-Lander"
(cf. picture), equipped with a mini-lab, on the surface of the comet to perform autonomously physics experiments.
Conclusions concerning the creation of the Universe are hoped from the results.
As part of a press conference on 20.11.2001, the "Rosetta" satellite project was presented to the
public in the IABG Space Test Centre. The landing module, the "Rosetta-Lander", developed and built
under the leadership of DLR by an international consortium,
had to be subjected to the following tests in the IABG space simulation facilities: vibration test, magnetic
test, EMC-test, thermal vacuum test and MPM test, which were successfully conducted by IABG. Since the end of
November, the landing module is in Noordwijk (Holland), where it is to be integrated into the orbiter.
11/20/01
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