ESA’s Rosetta probe is about to have a very close encounter with the red planet.
The billion euro probe is one of the most expensive unmanned space vehicles. It is designed to rendezvous with Comet Churyumov-Gerasemenko in 2014.
After reaching the comet in 2014, the probe will drop a refrigerator sized lab named Philae on the comet. This lab will study the comet’s surface to investigate the rock’s chemistry.
The probe is on a way to Mars to reduce its speed using assist from the planet’s gravitational force. It will come within 250 km of the red planet’s surface.
After the encounter the probe will again come back home and use Earth’s gravity to enhance its speed once again and will then continue onward journey to the comet.
Via: physorg
