Current Missions - Microwave Instrument on the Rosetta Orbiter
Launch: Mar. 2, 2004
Purpose: Instrument on comet orbiter
This JPL instrument will study gases given off by comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft orbits the comet during its swing through the inner solar system.
The instrument will measure the amounts of carbon monoxide, ammonia, methanol and oxygen leaving
the comet, which will show how the different comet materials change from ice to gas, and will help
determine temperature changes as the comet approaches the Sun.
More Information:
Rosetta Home page
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