system, the Rosetta spacecraft made history Wednesday as it became the first probe to rendezvous with a comet on its journey around the sun.
"Thruster burn complete. Rosetta has arrived at comet 67P. We're in orbit!" announced the European Space Agency, which is leading the ambitious project, on Twitter.
Rosetta fired its
thrusters on its final approach to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko,
known as "Chury" for short, on Wednesday morning. Half an hour after the
burn, scientists announced that the craft had entered into the orbit of
the streaking comet.
"After 10 years, five
months and four days travelling towards our destination, looping around
the sun five times, we are delighted to announce finally 'we are here',"
said Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA's Director General, in a statement.
"Europe's Rosetta is now
the first spacecraft in history to rendezvous with a comet, a major
highlight in exploring our origins. Discoveries can start."
Source:CNN
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