Scientists Gear Up To Land The First Spacecraft On Comet

The European Space Organization is making final preparations to land the 1st unmanned spacecraft on a comet next week, and scientists are wishing that technology designed a quarter century ago will execute as planned.

Europe's Rosetta space probe was introduced in 2004 with the essence studying comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and learning more regarding the origins of the world.

After successfully receiving Rosetta to rendezvous while using the comet in August, scientists plan to release a small landing craft called Philae on its icy surface.

This drop -- scheduled for 0835 GMT (3: 35 a. m. EST) Wednesday -- requires several complex orbital maneuvers on the coming days. Since signals control 28 minutes to traveling the 500 million kms (311 million miles) through Earth to Rosetta, scientists have programmed the probe to perform the separation sequence itself once the moment is right.

They They'll rely on what, within digital terms, is ancient technology.

"The design and building started some two decades ago, " mission administrator Fred Jansen told reporters Friday. "Effectively you're looking in technology, computing-wise, of the conclusion of the 1980s. "

The 100-kilogram (220-pound) lander really should touch down on the surface of the comet about seven hrs later, with confirmation reaching Earth at about 1603 GMT (11: 03 a. m. EST).

"There isn't doubt that we'll hit the comet, " mentioned spacecraft operations manager Andrea Accomazzo. "Whether we all hit it safely is usually another matter. "

This European Space Agency, which often relies for funding on its member states, has sought to drum up public fascination with the mission with several high-profile campaigns over the past year. These include an online vote on which to name the landing site -- Agilkia, after an island within the Nile River, was chosen -- and the release of a sci-fi small film called "Ambition" starring "Game of Thrones" performer Aidan Gillen.

The landing event will probably be streamed on the space agency's website.

Rosetta website: http://www.esa.int/rosetta
'Ambition' movie: http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/10/Ambition_the_film

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The above story is based on materials provided by the seattletimes.com and image credit bangkokpost.com.