|
European space scientists are counting down to the launch of Rosetta, the mission to put a lander on a comet.
The £600m, 12-year space expedition is scheduled to launch from French Guiana's Kourou spaceport on 26 February aboard an Ariane-5 G+ rocket.
But the high-risk mission will need to overcome major technical challenges.
"Rosetta will be the first ever spacecraft to perform a soft landing on a comet's nucleus," UK science minister Lord Sainsbury told a news conference.
"This will allow Rosetta to carry out more in-depth study (of a comet) than has ever been done before."
SEE FULL TEXT
|