Description
Book SynopsisIn 2014, Rosetta became the first mission to orbit a comet and to deploy a lander onto its surface. This is the story of ESA’s pioneering comet explorer, following the mission from its initial inception to its historic touchdown.
Read along as the Rosetta orbiter and its lander, Philae, evolve over the years, overcoming early mission hurdles before embarking on their one-way, decade-long voyage to a comet. See how the saga then culminates with Rosetta and Philae at last unveiling their icy target and achieving an unprecedented touchdown on its surface.
Award-winning space writer Peter Bond takes us behind the scenes of this historic endeavor, sharing insights from the international team of scientists and engineers who made the mission possible, describing the remarkable technology that they created, and delving into the treasure trove of scientific discoveries that followed.
Recounting in vivid detail the inner workings of Rosetta, this book is a celebration of the mission that has left a lasting impact on planetary science and space exploration.
Trade Review“I really enjoyed reading Bond’s very detailed account of the mission. … it contains plenty of detail which would be difficult to find in a digestible form anywhere else. … where this book really shines is in the day-to-day descriptions … . Bond has done an excellent job covering that aspect and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know a bit more ‘behind the scenes’ detail on this mission.” (Nick James, The Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 132 (1), February, 2022)
“Every instrument is described in detail and the results of each investigation are expertly summarized. The illustrations in the book are superb and I found the detailed referencing especially useful. Bond clearly enjoyed interviewing all the investigators and his biographical section was fascinating. … I enjoyed this book greatly.” (David W. Hughes, The Observatory, Vol. 141 (1285), December, 2021)
Table of Contents1. Comets and Asteroids.- 2. Beginnings.- 3. The Birth of Rosetta.- 4. Creating A Comet Chaser.- 5. Anatomy of a Mission.- 6. Switching Comets.- 7. The Long Trek.- 8. Unveiling A Cosmic Iceberg.- 9. Landing on a Comet.- 10. A Scientific Bonanza.- Index.
