Science: Rosetta set for suicide mission when it is smashed into comet

The countdown has started for the Rosetta spacecraft’s suicide mission as final preparations are made to crash it on to a comet.

Commands are being uploaded on Thursday night to line up the European Space Agency (ESA) orbiter for its oneway trip to the rugged surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Rosetta is due to carry out a “collision manoeuvre” at 9.50pm UK time at an altitude of about 19 km (12 miles).

From that moment, there will be no turning back. The spacecraft will head straight for the comet, hitting the ground at around 11.40am UK time on Friday to bring a dramatic end to its £1billion mission.

Confirmation of the spacecraft’s death is not expected until later because of the time it takes for radio signals from Rosetta to reach Earth.

Despite travelling at just 1.1mph – walking pace – the craft is not designed for landing and will not survive.

Rosetta will remain crumpled and lifeless on the surface of the comet as the object, a dirty chunk of ice and dust measuring 2.8miles across, carries it on repeated circuits of the solar system that may continue for millions of years.

The decision to crash the spacecraft was taken because the comet is now heading so far from the Sun that soon its solar panels will not be able to generate enough

“Rosetta will bounce or tumble on the surface of the comet

power to keep it functioning.

Scientists hope to obtain stunning images and valuable data in the final moments before impact. Speaking on an ESA YouTube hangout, Rosetta flight director Andrea Accomazzo said: “From an energy point of view it will be a soft landing. But Rosetta’s not designed to land, so there will be some energy dissipation. For sure, Rosetta will bounce or tumble on the surface of the comet.”