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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Space probe performs Mars fly-by | Space probe performs Mars fly-by |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A European space probe has completed a close fly-by of the planet Mars in a crucial manoeuvre on its 10-year journey to land on a distant comet. | A European space probe has completed a close fly-by of the planet Mars in a crucial manoeuvre on its 10-year journey to land on a distant comet. |
| The unmanned Rosetta craft passed within some 250 km (150 miles) of Mars. | The unmanned Rosetta craft passed within some 250 km (150 miles) of Mars. |
| In a precise move, the probe used the planet's gravity to change course on its voyage to the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet out near Jupiter. | In a precise move, the probe used the planet's gravity to change course on its voyage to the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet out near Jupiter. |
| Rosetta is due to reach the comet's orbit in 2014 and send a lander to its surface to study its chemistry. | Rosetta is due to reach the comet's orbit in 2014 and send a lander to its surface to study its chemistry. |
| The probe must harness the gravitational forces of the planets to build up the speed it needs to chase down and catch the comet. | The probe must harness the gravitational forces of the planets to build up the speed it needs to chase down and catch the comet. |
| Rosetta's flight takes it round the Sun four times, Mars once and the Earth three times, before hurtling out towards Jupiter. | Rosetta's flight takes it round the Sun four times, Mars once and the Earth three times, before hurtling out towards Jupiter. |
| Radio silence | Radio silence |
| This was the first and only time the spacecraft was to fly past Mars. | This was the first and only time the spacecraft was to fly past Mars. |
| From 1,000km: Mars' disc viewed against Rosetta's solar wingAs expected, experts at the mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, lost contact with the probe as it went behind the planet for the 15-minute manoeuvre. | |
| During this time, Rosetta had to rely for power in onboard batteries, as Mars blocked light to its solar panels. | During this time, Rosetta had to rely for power in onboard batteries, as Mars blocked light to its solar panels. |
| As radio contact was restored, there was applause in the control room. | As radio contact was restored, there was applause in the control room. |
| Spacecraft operations manager Andrea Accomazzo said the manoeuvre was "fundamental to the mission". | Spacecraft operations manager Andrea Accomazzo said the manoeuvre was "fundamental to the mission". |
| "It's a very big success, so we are very happy." | "It's a very big success, so we are very happy." |
| A Rosetta camera views dust or clouds in Mars' atmosphereThe probe will perform two similar fly-bys of Earth this year as it accelerates towards the comet. | |
| The craft is named after the Rosetta stone, which led experts to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. | The craft is named after the Rosetta stone, which led experts to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. |
| Scientists hope that this hi-tech Rosetta will, through its exploration of the comet, help solve some of the unexplained mysteries of the Solar System and how it evolved. | Scientists hope that this hi-tech Rosetta will, through its exploration of the comet, help solve some of the unexplained mysteries of the Solar System and how it evolved. |