Rosetta’s image of comet during controlled descent

The OSIRIS narrow-angle camera aboard the Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft captured this image of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on September 30, 2016, from an altitude of about 10 miles (16 kilometers) above the surface during the spacecraft’s controlled descent. The image scale is about 12 inches (30 centimeters) per pixel and the image itself measures about 2,000 feet (614 meters) across. Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft captured a new image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko shortly before its controlled impact into the comet’s surface on Sept. 30, 2016. High-resolution images, gas, dust, and the comet’s plasma environment were taken during the final descent.

Rosetta’s mission to rendezvous with the comet, escort it as it orbits the Sun, and deploy a lander to its surface began with its launch in 2004. It reached Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on August 6, 2014. The mission ended September 30, 2016 when Spacecraft Operations Manager Sylvain Lodiot confirmed loss of signal (LOS).

Philae, the lander deployed from the Rosetta mothership, touched down on the comet and obtained the first images taken from a comet’s surface. Over several days it sent back valuable scientific data.

Read the full article Final Descent Image from Rosetta Spacecraft.