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.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
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
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A 500 m-long fracture in the neck region of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko was spotted early in Rosetta’s mission (left), which evolved over the two years of study. Already by December 2014, it had extended by about 30 m, which is thought to be linked to the comet’s increasing spin rate in the lead up to perihelion. Furthermore, in images taken in June 2016 (right), a new fracture at least 150 m long, and perhaps extending up to 300 m, was identified parallel to the original fracture, as indicated here.
The images were taken by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera on 25 August 2014 (left) and 6 June 2016 (right), with resolutions of 0.9 m/pixel and 0.5 m/pixel, respectively.