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    ESA · Orbiter

    Rosetta

    The first spacecraft to orbit a comet and to deliver a lander, Philae, to a comet's surface.

    CompletedEnded with a controlled descent onto the comet on 30 September 2016.

    Launch date

    2004-03-02

    Destination

    Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

    Mission end

    2016-09-30

    Objectives

    • Rendezvous with and orbit a comet
    • Land on the nucleus
    • Follow the comet through perihelion

    Spacecraft

    Orbiter of about 3,000 kg with the 100 kg Philae lander

    Scientific instruments and systems

    • OSIRIS camera
    • ROSINA
    • MIRO
    • VIRTIS
    • Philae lander instruments

    Timeline

    1. 2004-03-02Launch on Ariane 5
    2. 2014-08-06Arrived at 67P
    3. 2014-11-12Philae landed on the nucleus
    4. 2016-09-30Mission end

    Major achievements

    • First comet orbiter and first comet landing

    Status reviewed 2026-10-23. For official images and the latest updates, visit the agency pages listed under Sources.