After 1000 days sleeping awakened | space probe "Rosetta" is to explore comets - IMAGE

Darmstadt – Good morning sunshine! After nearly 1,000 days of hibernation, the space probe “Rosetta” is tomorrow morning awakened.

But not with coffee and the Aufwachlied Nana Mouskouri, but a button.

The probe of the European Space Agency ESA, the “sleeping” still in space, to take course on a comet to explore with a lander for the first time, the nursery of the solar system.

Vergrößern In November “Rosetta” is scheduled to land on the comet, as the graph illustrates

photo: dpa infografik GmbH

The alarm clock is set at 11 clock. Is controlled by the probe was moved two and a half years ago in an energy-saving deep sleep, from Esa Control Esoc in Darmstadt.

“Rosetta” is to set course to the comet “67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko”. Planned landing: November 2014. The Spectacular of the action: The transported from the spacecraft minilab “Philae” should be placed on the comet

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Esa-flight director Paolo Ferri (54): “The first real rendezvous with a comet. Such a real encounter, it has never been. “

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space scientists the project even with the moon landing in 1969

“Philae” to investigate the primordial matter and provide an insight into the nursery of the solar system.

Vergrößern Another Computer Illustration: Landing stage Philea on the way to the comet

Photo: Illustration ESA-C. Carreau / ATG medialab / dpa

project manager Stephan Ulamec (47): “The most delicate is the landing. We do not know whether the surface of the comet is soft or hard. We will try to avoid a collision. “

But until that happens, must “Rosetta” are first awakened. Comparable is the process of uploading a computer. Ferri: “It will probably take until 19.30 clock until the probe is fully fit again. The systems must only be warm, then sends “Rosetta” tomorrow night hopefully the signal: “All OK”

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