European Space Agency Spacecraft Begins Flyby of Asteroid
The Associated Press reports that scientists working for the European Space Agency’s Operation Center said on Friday that ‘the deep space Rosetta satellite has stopped sending its signal. It’s an important and welcome step as the satellite begins a flyby of an asteroid millions of miles from earth.’
‘Rosetta rendezvoused with the Steins asteroid also known as Asteroid 2867—currently in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter—just after 2:45 p.m. EDT Friday,’ the AP goes on to say in its report.
Later the satellite will resume sending its signal to the center; when it does, it will be a sign that its flyby has ended and was successful.
All the information – photos, data, etc. – will be sent to the agency’s control room and laboratories.
Rosetta is a big a project for the ESA, one that is part of the agency’s attempt to become a serious player in space. It is so important, even, that it has a blog and a website of its own. Those who are interested in space should visit both sites. There is some fascinating material available at them.
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