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| Rosetta: Anxious wait for comet chaser wake-up | |
| (21 days later) | |
| Scientists say they are in for an anxious wait as they prepare to wake a comet-chasing probe from deep-space hibernation. | Scientists say they are in for an anxious wait as they prepare to wake a comet-chasing probe from deep-space hibernation. |
| In January, they will attempt to bring the Rosetta spacecraft back online so it can journey towards Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. | In January, they will attempt to bring the Rosetta spacecraft back online so it can journey towards Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. |
| Once it has reached the huge mass of ice and rock, the team will try to deploy a lander on the comet's surface. | Once it has reached the huge mass of ice and rock, the team will try to deploy a lander on the comet's surface. |
| Details were announced at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. | Details were announced at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. |
| Rosetta's project scientist Matt Taylor, from the European Space Agency (Esa), said: "This has never been done before. | Rosetta's project scientist Matt Taylor, from the European Space Agency (Esa), said: "This has never been done before. |
| "You have the hurdle of getting it back on. Then there is a massive hurdle of getting it close to the comet. And then there's landing on it. | "You have the hurdle of getting it back on. Then there is a massive hurdle of getting it close to the comet. And then there's landing on it. |
| "This is going to be a year of intensity." | "This is going to be a year of intensity." |
| The Rosetta probe was launched in March 2004, and has been on an epic journey through the Solar System. | The Rosetta probe was launched in March 2004, and has been on an epic journey through the Solar System. |
| It has orbited the Earth three times and then performed a slingshot around Mars to place it on a path towards Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. | It has orbited the Earth three times and then performed a slingshot around Mars to place it on a path towards Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. |
| After travelling many millions of kilometres, and passing two asteroids along the way, the Esa craft was put into deep sleep - that is, the spacecraft is turned off bar its alarm clock - in June 2011. | After travelling many millions of kilometres, and passing two asteroids along the way, the Esa craft was put into deep sleep - that is, the spacecraft is turned off bar its alarm clock - in June 2011. |
| This has enabled it to conserve its power for the final, risky stages of its journey. | This has enabled it to conserve its power for the final, risky stages of its journey. |
| Waking it up again will be "nerve-wracking", Dr Taylor told the BBC. | Waking it up again will be "nerve-wracking", Dr Taylor told the BBC. |
| "It has an internal alarm clock. The clock will say 'it's time to wake up'," he said. | "It has an internal alarm clock. The clock will say 'it's time to wake up'," he said. |
| This will happen at 10:00 GMT on 20 January. However, it could be a slow process - as if the craft is hitting snooze a few times after such a long slumber. | This will happen at 10:00 GMT on 20 January. However, it could be a slow process - as if the craft is hitting snooze a few times after such a long slumber. |
| The on-board electronics will be the first to warm up and then the "star trackers" should begin to establish Rosetta's position. | The on-board electronics will be the first to warm up and then the "star trackers" should begin to establish Rosetta's position. |
| The craft will then have to right itself, stabilising from the slow spin it has been performing while in hibernation mode. | The craft will then have to right itself, stabilising from the slow spin it has been performing while in hibernation mode. |
| "By the evening - that is when the first signals will be beaming back to Earth. Hopefully we will receive them," Dr Taylor said. | "By the evening - that is when the first signals will be beaming back to Earth. Hopefully we will receive them," Dr Taylor said. |
| "But it's going to be a very slow day - I imagine there will be lots of scientists pacing up and down while we wait." | "But it's going to be a very slow day - I imagine there will be lots of scientists pacing up and down while we wait." |
| This week, Esa launched a social media campaign to build excitement around 20 January. | This week, Esa launched a social media campaign to build excitement around 20 January. |
| It is calling on people to make a video clip of themselves and friends shouting "Wake up, Rosetta!". Prizes are being offered for the most imaginative videos shared via the dedicated Facebook page. | It is calling on people to make a video clip of themselves and friends shouting "Wake up, Rosetta!". Prizes are being offered for the most imaginative videos shared via the dedicated Facebook page. |
| Sun seeker | Sun seeker |
| If Rosetta can be revived, it will push forwards towards the comet, which has a core that is about 4km wide (2.5 miles). | If Rosetta can be revived, it will push forwards towards the comet, which has a core that is about 4km wide (2.5 miles). |
| It should meet the object in August and spend some weeks hurtling alongside. | It should meet the object in August and spend some weeks hurtling alongside. |
| In November, the most perilous stage of the process will begin as the team tries to deploy a robotic lander - Philae - on to the icy surface. | In November, the most perilous stage of the process will begin as the team tries to deploy a robotic lander - Philae - on to the icy surface. |
| "We've got loads of people working on this to make sure the trajectories are correct," said Dr Taylor. | "We've got loads of people working on this to make sure the trajectories are correct," said Dr Taylor. |
| But he said it was a risky manoeuvre that had never before been attempted. | But he said it was a risky manoeuvre that had never before been attempted. |
| If the landing is successful, the robot will take samples and record images as the comet makes its closest approach to the Sun in 2015. | If the landing is successful, the robot will take samples and record images as the comet makes its closest approach to the Sun in 2015. |
| It is hoped this will reveal more about these mysterious icy bodies, which are some of the most primitive objects in the Solar System. | It is hoped this will reveal more about these mysterious icy bodies, which are some of the most primitive objects in the Solar System. |
| Follow Rebecca on Twitter | Follow Rebecca on Twitter |