The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicIn 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.