Images from the OSIRIS scientific imaging camera taken during the close flyby on 14 February reveal the surface of Comet 67P/C-G in unprecedented detail, and include the shadow of the spacecraft. The image was taken from a distance of 6 km from the comet’s surface and has a resolution of 11 cm/pixel. It covers an area of 228 x 228 m and the shadow covers 20 x 50 m. The fade-through image shown here identifies the region on a wider view of the comet, taken by Rosetta's Navigation Camera (NAVCAM). Note that there are uncertainties in the distance to the surface and change in perspective between the images, making it difficult to match the images exactly in all places. The image is labelled to identify features that can be seen in both images.

For more information, see the blog: Comet flyby: OSIRIS catches glimpse of Rosetta's shadow

Credits: NAVCAM: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0;
OSIRIS: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

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The movie was created from images taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express.

Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum), CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

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Tags:   Mars Express Hebes Chasma Valles Marineris fly-through video

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This animation shows the Gaia spacecraft spinning in space scanning the sky.
Gaia’s mission relies on the systematic and repeating observation of star positions in two fields of view. As the detectors repeatedly measure the position of each celestial object, they will detect any changes in the object’s motion through space.
To achieve its mission the spacecraft is spinning slowly, sweeping its two telescopes across the entire celestial sphere to make four complete rotations per day.
Gaia’s telescopes point at two different portions of the sky, separated by a constant 106.5°. Therefore, objects arrive in the second field of view 106.5 minutes after they are observed in the first.
Meanwhile its spin axis precesses around the Sun with a period of about 63 days, allowing different parts of the sky to be scanned. This scanning strategy builds up an interlocking grid of positions, providing absolute – rather than relative – values of the stellar positions and motions.
The spacecraft spin axis makes an angle of 45° with the Sun direction, ensuring that the payload is shaded from the Sun, but that the solar arrays can still produce electricity efficiently.

Credits: ESA-C.Carreau

Tags:   ESA European Space Agency European Space Agency Gaia Animation

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Animation showing the deployment of Gaia’s sunshade. During launch, the 10 m-wide sunshield is stowed against the spacecraft. Shortly after Gaia separates from its launch vehicle, the sunshield is deployed around the base of the spacecraft. It consists of 12 long rectangular panels covered with multilayer insulation blankets, and 12 triangular sections to fill in the gaps.

The shield has two purposes: to shade Gaia’s sensitive telescopes and cameras, keeping them cool at a stable temperature below –100ºC, and to provide power to operate the spacecraft. Gaia will always point away from the Sun, so the underside of the skirt is covered with solar panels to generate electricity.

Credits: ESA/ATG Medialab

Tags:   ESA European Space Agency European Space Agency Gaia Sunshade Animation

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A major design issue for spacecraft arises from the intense environment experienced during launch, ranging from vigorous vibrations to deafening noise. It is essential to test spacecraft under similar conditions here on Earth, to ensure they will survive the violent ride to space.

In these videos of recent vibration tests, the BepiColombo structural and thermal model is in its launch configuration in the test facilities at ESTEC, ESA’s technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

BepiColombo is a joint mission between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to explore the properties of Mercury, the enigmatic innermost planet in our Solar System.

The spacecraft comprises a number of components. Seen here from top to bottom are the sunshield, which conceals the Japanese Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, with the European Mercury Planetary Orbiter below. Underneath is the Mercury Transfer Module, which will deliver the two scientific satellites into orbit around the planet.

Credits: ESA

Tags:   ESA European Space Agency European Space Agency BepiColombo ESTEC testing

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