[X] My Assistant

[djellison]

As you might all know by now - I'm heading to ESOC for the media event that ties in with the flyby and so with a lot of help from Emily and the Rosetta Science Operations Centre at ESA - I've done a flyby chart...just the imaging instruments, but it's fairly usefull. Emily's got a vertical one in the works in the same style as her excellent New Horizons timeline.

Other interesting resources...

http://www.space.irfu.se/rosetta/sci/mars/
http://www.cosis.net/abstracts/EGU2007/069...88baf6c8092ff18
http://spaceurope.blogspot.com/2007/02/ros...ng-lessons.html
http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/dsp_mars.cfm?b...uttonSelL2=mars
http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/dsp_aliceMars....uttonSelL2=mars
http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/dsp_miroMars.c...uttonSelL2=mars
http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/dsp_iesMars.cf...uttonSelL2=mars

And - in CET ( one hour ahead of UT )
25 February 2007, 2 a.m. start

02:00 - Doors open & Filming opportunity in Mission Control Room
02:40 - Welcome by David Southwood, ESA Director of Science Programme
02:50 - Rosetta Mars swingby the manoeuvres and flight dynamics, Uwe Feucht, Head of Flight Dynamics Division/Team
03:00 - En route science, first images, Gerhard Schwehm, Head of Solar System Science Operations Division & Rosetta Mission Manager
03:10 - Introductory comments on approach ; Paolo Ferri, Head of Solar and Planetary Missions Division and Rosetta Flight Operations Director Comments on eclipse, Andrea Accomazzo, Rosetta Spacecraft Operations Manager Comments on closest approach/eclipse, Andrea Accomazzo & Paolo Ferri
03:15 - Closest approach to Mars, eclipse starts
03:17 - Ground stations, Manfred Lugert, Head of Ground Facilities Operations Division
03:28 - Occultation ends - signal back
03:30 - Imagery from Rosetta and Mars Express , Uwe Keller, Mas-Planck Institute
03:40 - Comments on eclipse end and telemetry acquisition, Andrea Accomazzo,
03:52 - Conclusions, Manfred Warhaut, Head of Mission Operations Department
04 :00 - End of event


I'd say I was looking forward to it....but that's somehow not quite enough.

Also attached - Anim Gif of 1 frame per hour flyby

Doug

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Harder]

Doug,
if I recall correctly one of the ESA papers on the Pioneer Anomaly stated that the Rosetta spacecraft would not be suitable for measurements which would be accurately enough to further narrow down the observed anomaly.
Is that a 100% no-no, or is there some possibility after all of ESA using this Mars swing-by for further investigations?
I'm sure the Rosetta navigational accuracy is second-to-none if ESA aims at only 250 km distance from Mars at 36000 km/hr, but that is not the only factor. The "noise" from spacecraft stabilization and very large solar panels probably drowns any potential PA effect.

[djellison]

I'm sure the Rosetta navigational accuracy is second-to-none if ESA aims at only 250 km distance from Mars at 36000 km/hr,

Using the European DDOR ability that I mentioned in my Valencia blog - they're currently within 5km of that target point, which isn't bad

Emilys points about P.A. stuff is very true - which is why Voyager can't really help - but NH can during some of it's pseudo-hibernated cruise phases.

Doug