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G.H. Schwehm (ESA)
The International Rosetta Mission is ESA's Planetary Cornerstone in it's long-term programme Horizons 2000. The prime scientific objective of the mission is to study the origin of comets, the relationship between cometary and interstellar material, and its implications with regard to the origin of the solar system.12 instruments on the orbiter will study the nucleus properties and its composition. A suite of remote instruments will map and monitor the nucleus surface covering a wavelength range from the UV to the submillemetre regime with a resolution in the VIS of 4 cm from close orbits. Mass Spectrometers will analyse the chemical, mineralogical, and isotopic composition of the volatile and refractory components. An AFM will provide surface morphology of individual grains with 10 nm resolution.The near- nucleus environment will be studied by a dust monitor and a Plasma Package.
Launched in January 2003 by an Ariane 5, Rosetta will rendezvous with 46P/Wirtanen end of 2011 and follow it on close orbits from 4.5 au through perihelion. Early in the close-orbit phase a Lander will be deployed onto the nucleus for insitu studies.
On its long journey to the comet, the asteroids Otawara and Siwa will be studied during close flybys.