View from Earth: Rosetta passing Mars

In this artist's representation, Rosetta's track past Mars on 25 February 2007 is shown as viewed from Earth. The track is based on actual estimated flight dynamics data. Closest approach - 250 km altitude - is expected at 01:57:59.0 UTC, 25 February, +/- 1.3 seconds.

The pre- and post-Mars swingby velocities relative to the Sun are the sums (added vectorially) of Mars velocity relative to the Sun (91 454 km/hr) and Rosetta's velocity relative to Mars. This gives a pre-Mars swingby velocity of 86 666 km/hr relative to the Sun and a post-Mars swingby velocity of 78 779 km/hr relative to the Sun. The swingby should therefore reduce Rosetta's velocity relative to the Sun by 7887 km/hr.