Rosetta

Rosetta was a European Space Agency (ESA) space probe that rendezvoused with the comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It was launched in 2004 and reached the comet in 2014. A lander, Philae, landed in 2014 but failed to position its solar panels effectively and achieved only a couple of days' science activities. The Rosetta science mission continued until 2016 when the probe was deliberately hard-landed on the comet. Instruments:

• ALICE - ultraviolet imaging spectrograph.
• OSIRIS - optical, spectroscopic, and infrared remote imaging system.
• VIRTIS - visible and infrared thermal imaging spectrometer.
• MIRO - microwave instrument for the Rosetta orbiter.
• CONSERT - comet nucleus sounding experiment by radiowave transmission.
• RSI - radio science investigation.
• ROSINA - Rosetta orbiter spectrometer for ion and neutral analysis (mass spectrometer).
• MIDAS - micro-imaging dust analysis system.
• COSIMA - cometary secondary ion mass analyzer.
• GIADA - grain impact analyzer and dust accumulator.
• RPC - Rosetta plasma consortium (studied solar wind interaction).

Philae instruments:

• APXS - alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.
• CIVA - comet nucleus infrared and visible analyzer.
• COSAC - cometary sampling and composition.
• MUPUS - multi-purpose sensors for surface and sub-surface science.
• Ptolemy - instrument to measure stable isotope ratios of volatiles on the nucleus.
• ROLIS - Rosetta lander imaging system.
• ROMAP - Rosetta lander magnetometer and plasma monitor.
• SD2 - sampling, drilling and distribution.
• SESAME - surface electric sounding and acoustic monitoring experiments.